Union Songs

James Connolly

james connollyA song by Patrick Galvin©Patrick Galvin

Where oh where is our James Connolly
Where oh where is that gallant man
He is gone to organise the Union
That working men they may yet be free

Oh who then who will lead the van
Oh who then who will lead the van
Who but our James Connolly
The hero of the working man

Who will carry high the burning flag
Who will carry high the burning flag
Who but our James Connolly
Could carry high the burning flag

They carried him up to the jail
They carried him up to the jail
And they shot him down on a bright May morning
And quickly laid him in his grave

Who mourns the death of this great man
Who mourns the death of this great man
Oh bury me down in yon green garden
With union men on every side

So they buried him down in yon green garden
With union men on every side
They swore they would form a mighty union
That James Connolly's name might be filled with pride

Where oh where is our James Connolly
Where oh where is that gallant man
He is gone to organise the Union
That working men they may yet be free

Notes

This song was written by the Irish writer, poet and collector Patrick Galvin

James Connolly was co-founder (with James Larkin) of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union (ITGWU), founder of the Irish Citizen Army, Union leader in the great Dublin lock-out of 1913, marxist and one of the leaders of the Easter Rising 1916, for which he was subsequently executed in Kilmainham jail by the British Authorities. James Connolly was also involved in setting up the IWW in USA.

Judy Pinder sings this song on the CD "Union is Strength"

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union songs..........a selection by mark gregory