Ballad Of Bobby Sands

Bobby Sands

Bobby Sands was the first hunger strikers to die on 5 May 1981 in the so-called H-Blocks of Her Majesty's Prison Maze.
This hunger strike was the last straw of the ongoing prison protests motivated by the abolition of the Special Category Status. Until 1980 imprisoned paramilitary derived certain rights from the Special Category Status by which they were given a status equal with prisoners of war or at least political prisoners. By removing these rights they would become ordinary prisoners, liable to the prison regime and, most of all, they would become invisible for the national and international community.

Enforcing claims by means of fasting is a rather Irish phenomenon which is rooted in the ancient Brehon Law. The basic assumption of Cealacha, in general translated as achieving justice by starvation, was that the wrongdoer was sensible for the embarrassment caused by a fasting men on his doorstep. In recent history the Price Sisters and Nick Kelly proofed that fasting occasionally appealed to the sense of right and wrong of both the British as the Irish government indeed.
In the 1980's however the hunger strikers had to deal with Margaret Iron Lady Thatcher and she didn't yield one inch. The 1981 hunger strike came to an end in October 1981 after Patrick McGeown's parents successfully had ordered medical intervention to save their son's life. Until today it is unknown whether or not this option was suggested by the government.

Given the other names mentioned in the Ballad Of Bobby Sands Gerry O'Glacain probably wrote the song after the death of Patsy O'Hara on 21 May 1981, but before the death of the fifth hunger striker, Joe McDonnell, on 8 July 1981.
In all ten young men, often referred to as The Ten Brave Men, died during the 1981 hunger strike.

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Ballad Of Bobby Sands

Oh Irishmen remember well
Our heroes who in action fell
And those who died in the prison cell
Like Bobby Sands from Belfast

An Irish soldier to the last
A criminal he would not be classed
And so began a long day fast
Of Bobby Sands from Belfast

So proud Britannia hide your face
Throughout the world you are disgraced
How many more must take the place
Of Bobby Sands from Belfast

The gallant Hughes from Derry's hills
He fought against the tyrants will
O'Hara and McCreesh you've killed
Like Bobby Sands from Belfast

And the world will never understand
Why you denied their just demands
A lingering death with your heartless plan
for those like Sands from Belfast

Now Britannia, all the world must know
how England treats a helpless foe
Your British justice, it is laid low
Like Bobby Sands from Belfast

So proud Britannia hide your face
Throughout the world you are disgraced
How many more must take the place
Of Bobby Sands from Belfast

(Thanks to Nicky for sending the lyrics)

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