Joe Mcdonnell by Wolfe Tones chord (text):

Submitted by Dotsey



THE WOLFE TONES

JOE McDONNELL



This song is about Joe McDonnell, an Irish Republican Volunteer who died in prison

while on hunger strike in 1981, he and his comrades were protesting against

the conditions and the fact that the British were trying to force them to wear 

prison uniform when they were POW's. The British government wrongly convicted

them of being terrorists when the terrorists were and still are the British

government who have beign terrorising the Irish since 1167.





Verse 1

       G                           C              G

  O me name is Joe McDonnell, from Belfast town I came

       C           G             D

  That city I will never see again

      G                             C           G

  For in the town of Belfast I spent many happy days

    C                 G          D

  I love that town in oh so many ways

           Am      C        Am            C              G

  For it's there I spent my childhood and found for me a wife

    Am              C        G       D

  I then set out to make for her a life

      G                               C              G

  But all my young ambitions met with bitterness and hate

         C            G               D

  I soon found myself inside a prison gate





Chorus

          Am   C         Am              C                  G

  And you dare call me a terrorist while you look down your gun

         Am               C          G        D

  When I think of all the deeds that you have done

          G

  You had plundered many nations divided many lands

          C                Am                C            D

  You had terrorised their peoples you ruled with an iron hand

          G                     C            D

  And you brought this reign of terror to my land





Verse 2

  Through those many months internment in the Maidstone and the Maize

  I thought about my land throughout those days

  Why my country was divided why I was now in jail

  Imprisoned without crime without trial

  And though I love my country I am not a bitter man

  I've seen cruelty and injustice at first hand

  So then one faithful morning I shook bold freedom's hand

  For right or wrong I'd try to free my land



Chorus.....



Verse 3

  Then one October morning trapped in a lions den

  I found myself in prison once again

  I was committed to the H-blocks for fourteen years or more

  On the blanket the conditions they were poor

  Then a hunger strike we did commence for the dignity of man

  But it seemed to me that no one gave a damn

  But now I am a saddened man I've watched my comrades die

  If only people cared or wondered why



Chorus.....



Verse 4

  May God shine on you Bobby Sands for the courage you have shown

  May your glory and your fame be widely known

  And Francis Hughes and Ray McCreesh who died unselfishly

  And Patsy O'Hara and the next in line is me

  And those who lay behind me may your courage be the same

  And I pray to God my life was not in vain

  Ah but sad and bitter was the year of 1981

  For everything I've lost and nothing's won