Sam Song Lyrics
Wild Colonial BhoysMusic Video
Sam Song
Well I have been a Provo
For fifteen years or more
Both armalites and mortar bombs
I thought I knew the score
Now we have a weapon
We've never used before
The Brits are lookin' worried
And they're gonna' worry more
Tiocfaidh ár lá!
Sing up the 'RA!
(Oo ah up the 'RA say Oo ah up the 'RA)
SAM Missiles in the sky
I started out with petrol bombs
And throwing bricks and stones
With a hundred more lads like me,
I never was alone
Soon I learned that bricks and stones
Won't drive the Brits away
It wasn't very long before
I joined the IRA
Tiocfaidh ár lá!
Sing up the 'RA!
(Oo ah up the 'RA say Oo ah up the 'RA)
SAM Missiles in the sky
Then there came interment
In the year of seventy one
The Brits thought we were beaten,
That we were on the run
Then one early august mornin'
They kicked in our back door
For every man they took away,
They missed a hundred more
Tiocfaidh ár lá!
Sing up the 'RA!
(Oo ah up the 'RA say Oo ah up the 'RA)
SAM Missiles in the sky
I spent eight years in the cages
And time to think a plan
For though they locked away a boy
I walked out a man
There's only one thing that I learned
While in their cell I lay
The Brits will never leave us
Until they're blown away
Tiocfaidh ár lá!
Sing up the 'RA!
(Oo ah up the 'RA say Oo ah up the 'RA)
SAM Missiles in the sky
All through the days of hunger strike
I watched my comrades die
And through the streets of Belfast
You could here the women cry
Well I can't forget the massacre
That Friday at Loughgall
I salute my fallen comrades
As I watch the choppers fall
Tiocfaidh ár lá!
Sing up the 'RA!
(Oo ah up the 'RA say Oo ah up the 'RA)...
SAM Missiles in the sky
(Oo ah up the 'RA say Oo ah up the 'RA)...
SAM Missiles in the sky
(Oo ah up the 'RA say Oo ah up the 'RA)
(Oo ah up the 'RA say Oo ah up the 'RA)
(Oo ah up the 'RA say Oo ah up the 'RA)
Song Details
Composer: Stan Jones
Stan Jones (1914–1963) was an American singer songwriter, actor, and park ranger best known for writing “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend” in 1948. The melody of Sam Song is based on this well‑known Western ballad.
Lyricist: Gerry O’Glacain:
Gerry O’Glacain is credited with writing the adapted lyrics used in this version of Sam Song. His text reshapes the original melody into a modern rebel song reflecting the atmosphere of the Troubles.
Song Brief:
Sam Song is a modern rebel song that reflects the perspective of an IRA volunteer during the Troubles. It references internment, imprisonment, the hunger strikes of 1981, and specific events such as Loughgall. The narrator describes his progression from street protests to armed struggle to internment, expressing loyalty to his comrades and a belief in resistance. The repeated references to “SAM missiles” are symbolic of a new phase of armed capability and confidence.
- Provo: A common nickname for a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), an organisation active during the Troubles.
- armalite: A type of lightweight rifle associated with the conflict in Northern Ireland.
- mortar bombs: Improvised explosive devices fired from a simple launch tube.
- SAM Missiles: Surface‑to‑Air Missile — a type of weapon designed to shoot down aircraft from the ground.
- Tiocfaidh ár lá: An Irish phrase meaning “Our day will come.” It became a slogan expressing hope for political change and is often heard in songs and chants from the republican tradition.
- 'RA: A shortened, informal way of referring to the IRA.
- Loughgall: A village in County Armagh. In 1987, it was the site of a major confrontation between the IRA and the British Army, resulting in the deaths of eight IRA members. In songs, “Loughgall” is often mentioned as a symbol of loss and remembrance.
Genre: Irish Rebel Song
Covers: The Irish Brigade, Éire Óg, Shebeen, Athenrye, Charlie and the Bhoys, The Rebel Hearts, Rebels and Sinners, The Shams.
Featured Artists: Wild Colonial Bhoys - a Minnesota‑based Irish‑American folk group known for blending traditional ballads, modern rebel songs, and original material. Active since the early 2000s, they bring a lively, contemporary sound to Irish music traditions.
💿 Album: Graffiti on the Wall
Released: Oct 1, 2004
Country: United States
Format: CD / Digital
Label: Self‑released (℗ 2004 Graffiti on the Wall)
