Katie+Ryan

The Wolfetones

Katie Ryan October 25, 2009 EN 101 “Profiling and Researching an Artist” __The Wolfetones: The Rifles of the IRA __

The Irish band the Wolfetones use their music to address what they see as English tyranny within Northern Ireland. Many of their songs address the problem of English tyranny in Northern Ireland. The band itself is named after Wolfe Tone, who was one of the leaders of the 1798 Irish rebellion, when the lower class rose up against the government. Artistdirect.com says it all when they say, “Very few bands manage to stay together for several decades. Even fewer are able to do it when their prime focus is politics. But then again, there aren't many around like the Wolfe Tones.” (Nickson, 1) The Wolfetones have never been ashamed or scared to put their lyrics out there, even when the lyrics started to become banned in Ireland back in the 1960’s. Two brothers, Derek and Brian Warfield, formed the band in 1963. They then recruited friends Noel Nagle and Tommy Byrne. The band identifies themselves as ballad singers because their songs usually tell stories. Their music is a cross between lyrics that address Irish Republican Politics and the use of flutes and banjoes usually associated with traditional Irish music. Their music expresses many of the Irish Republican Army beliefs, although the band insists they have no ties to the IRA. The IRA has been fighting to regain the land of Northern Ireland from British rule and make it a free state again, since the early 1900’s. There is tension between the people of Northern Ireland due to differences in religion. The Irish are mainly all Catholics and the English who occupy Northern Ireland are mainly Protestant. The Wolfetones’ music helped the hardship of Irish Catholics in Northern Ireland to become more widely known in the United States when it started to become popular here during their U.S. tour in 1966 (“Irish Rebellion”, 1). One of their works of art that is a great example of one which addresses the political problems of their time such as attacks on the Irish made by the English, is the song “The Men Behind the Wire,” which tells the story of an attack on Belfast by English soldiers. Lyrics such as, “Through the little streets of Belfast, In the dark of early morn, British soldiers came marauding, Wrecking little homes with scorn, Heedless of the crying children, Cragging fathers from their beds, Beating sons while helpless mothers, Watched the blood poor from their heads,”

tell a gruesome account of the attack by Cromwell, the British leader’s army (celtic-lyrics.com). media type="youtube" key="lSTIFiiUiTQ" height="344" width="425" The Wolfetones then respond to the attacks with lyrics showing unity among the Irish and scorn towards the English saying, Not for them a judge and jury, Nor indeed a trial at all, But being Irish means you’re guilty, So we’re guilty one and all, Round the world the truth will echo, Cromwell’s men are here again, England’s name again is sullied, In the eyes of honest men. (celtic-lyrics.com). This work of art is probably the most gruesome, graphic song the Wolfetones sing but it surely does get a point across. Other songs of theirs also address the same issue but more in a sense of coming together in unity to overcome the struggles they face. In the song “Irish Republican Jail Song”, the Wolfetones again address the political issue of English tyranny in Northern Ireland. This song is a great example of a work of art, which expresses the sense of unity that the Irish needed to overcome their struggles with England, even when the fight seemed hopeless. Lyrics of this song that send out this message best are So keep on the fight, you volunteers, for God is on our side. No jail can break our brave young men, no prison clamp their pride. For England knows, and England hates, our fearless northern gales; Sure there’s another reason why well free our lads from Crumlin jail.(lyricsdownload.com). Many other songs such as “Were on the One Road”, and “A Soldier’s Song” share this same message. The Wolfe tones are in fact a great example of artists whose work addresses a social issue of their time, but they tend to be overlooked. Maybe this is a result of their music being stereotyped into the “Irish Music” category. It could also be because the social issues of Ireland, which their songs address, are not well known to all people around the world. Or maybe the Wolfetones’ audience is simply getting older. But nevertheless, their work does tell a story and there songs do a great job of evoking emotion from their audience.

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