Clerys are Commies shock!

Tuesday November 19, 2002 16:40

by Mags

While innocently promenading along our capital's premier boulevard (san triangular trees or spike, so far) yesterday evening - fully compos mentis for once - I betook myself to admire the Clery's Christmas Windows. A disappointing experience. They were sadly lacking in gigantic chimney scaling squirrels and nary a prettified anthropomorphic badger in sight. No 'moving' Santas or assembly lines of sweated elves. Just mannequins of weird looking 'men' in expensive clothes and golden turbans. Horrified at the death of the Irish traditonal imported American christmas I turned away, to wend my weary way homewards....

....but hark, what is that tune I hear - sounds familiar - more Xmas noise pollution? No, no, - its... The Red Flag.

It's true folks - Clerys are playing The Red Flag over their PA system into the street. Jim Larkin would be pleased! So here are the words, so you can all join in:

"The Red Flag" by Jim Connell

The people's flag is deepest red,
It shrouded oft our martyred dead,
And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold,
Their hearts blood dyed its every fold.

Then raise the scarlet standard high. (chorus)
Within its shade we'll live and die,
Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer,
We'll keep the red flag flying here.

Look round, the Frenchman loves its blaze,
The sturdy German chants its praise,
In Moscow's vaults its hymns are sung
Chicago swells the surging throng.

It waved above our infant might,
When all ahead seemed dark as night;
It witnessed many a deed and vow,
We must not change its colour now.

It well recalls the triumphs past,
It gives the hope of peace at last;
The banner bright, the symbol plain,
Of human right and human gain.

It suits today the weak and base,
Whose minds are fixed on pelf and place
To cringe before the rich man's frown,
And haul the sacred emblem down.

With heads uncovered swear we all
To bear it onward till we fall;
Come dungeons dark or gallows grim,
This song shall be our parting hymn.

(All right - I know it is also the tune of Tannebaum, which is something to do with Xmas - but so what).

Heres a page about 'The Red Flag' at:
http://www.comms.dcu.ie/sheehanh/connell.htm

If you wish to complain contact:
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