Christy Moore - James Larkin lyrics

In Dublin City in 1914 the boss was
Rich and the poor were slaves
The women working and the
Children hungry then
On came Larkin like a mighty wave
The workers cringed when the
Boss man thundered
Seventy hours was their weekly chore
They asked for little and less was granted
Lest getting little they'd asked for more

Then came Larkin in 1914 a mighty
Man with a mighty tongue
The voice of labour the voice of
Justice and he was gifted, he was young
God sent Larkin in 1914 a labor
Man with a union tongue
He raised the workers and
Gave them courage he
Was their hero and a workers son

It was in August the boss man told us
No union man for them could work
We stood by Larkin and told the boss man
We'd fight or die but we'd never shirk
Eight months we fought eight
Months we starved we
Stood by Larkin through thick and thin
But foodless homes and the crying children
They broke our hearts and we could not win
When Larkin left us we seemed defeated the
Night was black for the working man
But on came Connolly came with new hope and
Counsel his motto was we'll rise again
In 1916 in Dublin City the
English army burnt our town
They shelled the buildings and
Shot our leaders
The harp was buried beneath the crown

They shot McDermott and Pearse
And Plunkett they
Shot McDonagh Ceannt and Clarke the brave
From bleak Kilmanham they took
Their bodies to
Arbour hill to a quicklime grave
Last of all of the seven leaders
They shot down James Connolly
The voice of labour the voice of justice gave
His life that we might be free