l ‘Readings in Nonviolence’ features extracts from our favourite books, pamphlets, articles or other material on nonviolence and related areas, or reviews of important works in the field (suggestions and contributions welcome)
N-E-U-T-R-A-L-I-T-Y
A song for our times by John Maguire
People are free to use this new song by wordsmith John Maguire as the struggle continues against the Irish government’s plans to ditch the Triple Lock on the deployment of Irish troops overseas and get even more involved with NATO and EU militarism –
John Maguire says – These are the words of a song that at least might lift the spirits a little in these troubled times. It goes to the tune of ‘The Wearing of the Green’, which starts:
Oh Paddy, dear, and did you hear the
News that’s going round?
The shamrock is by law forbid
To grow on Irish ground
–
The Government need all our help – they’re such a sorry band! –
So we’ve to spell out certain words that they don’t understand,
Or maybe they don’t want to hear, and simply won’t see why
Our policy’s N-E-U-T-R-A-L-I-T-Y!
We knew we weren’t the greatest, but we tried to do our best,
Until our leaders said: ‘Let’s join The Big Guns of the West!
Let’s throw our values overboard, let’s really clear the decks
And join the Milit’ry-Industrial C-O-M-P-L-E-X!’
CHORUS:
We won’t sell it out; we’ll spell it out, and tell the whole world why
We’re sticking with N-E-U-T-R-A-L-I-T-Y!
Some decades past, up in Belfast, our leaders worked for peace.
They used their wit, and did their bit to help the slaughter cease.
Then Tony said: ‘Peace has its price, and here’s ‘our Bill’, you see:
You’ll have to sign on the dotted line with NATO’s PfP.
We’re taking over the UN, we’ll use it when it suits,
But we’ll decide who’s wrong or right, and where we plant our boots.
Forget the UN Charter, we now make the rules, you see:
(Just not a word to Mairéad M-A-G-U-I-R-E!)’
CHORUS
We turned down Nice and Lisbon, and were told to vote again.
But still we kept on questioning, so in desperation then
They swore to us ‘From the UN we’ll never turn away!
We’ll give you a T-R-I-P-L-E L-O-C-K!’
That was their solemn promise, and they swore that it was sound.
Don’t let them take it from us: by their words they are still bound.
Let’s work to rescue the UN from NATO’s dire control
That’s the way to save our planet, that’s the way to save our souls!
CHORUS