Album: Wild Life (1972)

Charted: 16 21

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• Give Ireland back to the Irish
  Don't make them have to take it away
  Give Ireland back to the Irish
  Make Ireland Irish today
  
  Great Britain, you are tremendous
  And nobody knows like me
  But really, what are you doin'
  In the land across the sea?
  
  Tell me, how would you like it
  If on your way to work
  You were stopped by Irish soldiers?
  Would you lie down, do nothing
  Would you give in or go berserk?
  
  Give Ireland back to the Irish
  Don't make them have to take it away
  Give Ireland back to the Irish
  Make Ireland Irish today
  
  Great Britain and all the people
  Say that all people must be free
  And meanwhile back in Ireland
  There's a man who looks like me
  
  And he dreams of god and country
  And he's feeling really bad
  And he's sitting in a prison
  Say, should he lie down, do nothing
  Should give in or go mad?
  
  Give Ireland back to the Irish
  Don't make them have to take it away
  Give Ireland back to the Irish
  Make Ireland Irish today
  
  Give Ireland back to the Irish
  Don't make them have to take it away
  Give Ireland back to the Irish
  Make Ireland Irish today (yeah, yeah) Writer/s: Linda McCartney, Paul McCartney
  Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 12

• Simon from LondonIt’s a song. How is it supposed to be such a threat that it has to be banned? The country of free speech? Bollocks
• Michael from ViennaAlthough Paul McCartney was a great songwriter when he was still part of the Beatles I don't have a very high opinion of the songs he wrote after they split. And this song is a good example. The melody is rather boring and the lyrics have a very simple political statement. John Lennon's work after the Beatles was much more exciting.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 5th 1972, "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" by Wings entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #78, and four weeks later on April 4th, 1972 it peaked at #21 {for 2 weeks} and spent 8 weeks on the Top 100...
  As stated above, it reached #1 in Ireland, that was for one week on March 4th, 1972...
  The record's B-side was an instrumental version of the song.
• Giles from EnglandGood man Alex. Were you at the 12th this year? And yer sash! Gowd save Norn Iron!
• Jack from Mesa, AzI'm dismayed by the killing cos in these times being ruled by England doesn't seem oppressive compared to real oppression in the world.
• Sioraf from Macroon, IrelandThe song did not support the IRA.
• Alan from East Kilbride, United KingdomActually Northern Ireland is part of the UK (hence the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland!). I'm a big fan of Macca but he was so wrong with this single!
• Brendan from Dublin, IrelandWho wrote they killed countless innocent people? are you telling me that FOREIGN oppressors under a FOREIGN king were innocent,like hell they were. Most people in the republic disagree with the disidants methods but we agree with their beliefs. Let me put this to you though,have you ever heard of the B-specials ? course not,they discriminated against catholics and then the R.U.C burnt out nationalists from their homes and would not give them jobs. So by what you say,we were wrong to take Ireland back ? it's our nation not Britain's. The people who you say are loyal are also dissendants of planters who were British oppressors.
• Bruce from Boston, MaHere's the tragedy - that all this political bs hasn't helped anyone allow the young generation to kick the old folks ass out and leave their ax-grinding behind. It's pathetic, and there's a good reason for the cliche' "life's too short" It's too late to keep marching for sad old parades just to piss off your neighbors. Wake up and join the 21st century and use the gifts God has given you. So much of the most beautiful art and culture comes from that small island. You could be kings and queens, instead you're s-ing away billions to build walls. I'd love to see a general strike - the youth all hold hands, across all lines and say "we're guiding this ship, if you don't like the new direction, then leave."
• Ken from Louisville, KyPaul is half Irish. His mother's maiden name was Mohan (McCartney is a Scottish name). Incidentially, John was half Irish on his father's side and George was half-Irish on his mother's side (French...yep, that's an Irish surname). Liverpool has an eclectic mix of Irish, Scottish, Welch and English heritage.
• Paul from Dublin, IrelandNorthern Ireland is part of IRELAND, hence the title of the song. That's why McCartney wrote the song in the first place, recognising the fact that there will never be peace as long as a foreign invader-the british-are in our country. Incidently, John Lennon also wrote an excellent song on the same topic, The Luck Of The Irish. Says it all.
• Mj from Offaly, IrelandMajority of "northern" ireland was not loyal to the monarch but the sadistic views of proportional representation used at the time tried to display otherwise.. secondly.. Brits do not belong in IRELAND... than you mister McCartney.

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