Come Out Ye' Black And Tans Lyrics
The Irish DescendantsMusic Video
Come Out Ye' Black And Tans
I was born in the Dublin street, where the loyal drums do beat,
And the loving English feet walked all over us;
And every single night when me dad would come home tight,
He'd invite the neighbours out with this chorus
Come out you black and tans, come out and fight me like a man,
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders;
Tell her how the IRA made you run like hell away,
From the green and lovely lanes of Killeshandra.
Come tell us how you slew them ol' Arabs two by two,
Like the Zulus they had knives and bows and arrows;
Of how bravely you faced one with your sixteen-pounder gun,
And you frightened all the natives to the marrow.
Come out you black and tans, come out and fight me like a man,
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders;
Tell her how the IRA made you run like hell away,
From the green and lovely lanes of Killeshandra.
Come let us hear you tell
How you slammed the brave Parnell,
And taught him well and truly persecuted;
Where are the stares and jeers that you proudly let us hear,
When our heroes of sixteen were executed.
Come out you black and tans, come out and fight me like a man,
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders;
Tell her how the IRA made you run like hell away,
From the green and lovely lanes of Killeshandra.
Oh! Come out you British Huns,
Come out and fight without your guns,
Show your wife how you won medals up in Derry;
You murdered sixteen men and you'll do the same again,
So get out of here and take your bloody army.
Come out you black and tans, come out and fight me like a man,
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders;
Tell her how the IRA made you run like hell away,
From the green and lovely lanes of Killeshandra.
Oh! Come out you black and tans, come out and fight me like a man,
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders;
Tell her how the IRA made you run like hell away,
From the green and lovely lanes of Killeshandra.
Song Details
✍️ Songwriter: Dominic Behan - Irish writer, songwriter and singer from Dublin who wrote in Irish and English.
📝Song Brief:
Come Out Ye’ Black and Tans is a lively and provocative rebel song written by Dominic Behan in the mid‑20th century. Sung from the viewpoint of a narrator addressing his neighbours, it calls up memories of British forces in Ireland, particularly the Black and Tans from the War of Independence.
With bold, taunting lyrics, the singer invites them to face Irish resistance and recalls earlier struggles for freedom. Blending humour, sarcasm, and fierce pride, the song contrasts British military power with Irish resilience. It remains a spirited anthem of defiance, reflecting the anger, hardship, and determination of that turbulent period in Irish history.
📖 Glossary:- Black And Tans
A force recruited by the British government in 1920 to support the Royal Irish Constabulary during the War of Independence. They were mostly former soldiers and became known for acts of extreme violence, harsh tactics and a lack of discipline, leaving a lasting and often painful mark on Irish public memory. - Flanders:
A region in Belgium where many Irishmen fought and died during the First World War. In songs, “Flanders” often represents the heavy losses suffered by Irish regiments on the Western Front. - IRA
The Irish Republican Army, an organisation that sought to end British rule in Ireland and establish an independent republic. In the context of the song, it refers to the IRA of the early 20th century. - Killeshandra
A small town or village and civil parish in County Cavan, Ireland. - Parnell
Charles Stewart Parnell (1846–1891), a major figure in Irish politics and leader of the Home Rule movement. He is often remembered as a symbol of constitutional nationalism and political aspiration. - British Huns
A derogatory phrase used in some early 20th‑century songs and propaganda. “Hun” was a wartime slur applied to German forces during WWI and was sometimes extended to British forces in Irish rebel songs to express anger or resentment. - Derry
A historic city in Northern Ireland, also known as Londonderry. Long associated with political, cultural, and historical identity, it frequently appears in Irish songs where it often carries strong emotional and historical significance. - Heroes of ’16
A reference to the leaders and participants of the 1916 Easter Rising, an armed insurrection in Dublin aimed at establishing an independent Irish Republic. Many of those involved were executed or imprisoned, and they later became powerful symbols in Irish song, history, and national memory.
🍀 Genre: Irish Rebel Song
👥 Covers: The Wolfe Tones, Colm R. McGuinness, Seth Staton Watkins, The Davitts, Paddy Reilly, The Fenians, Blackthorn, Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones, and many more.
🎤 Featured Artist: The Irish Descendants - folk group from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, with all members born of Irish emigrants.
💿 Album: Encore - Best Of The Irish Descendants Volume 2
Released: 2009
Country: CA
Format: CD
Label: Fontana North
