In this week’s Three Tune Tuesday, Boneapart and Yulia discuss the concept of *rights*, *human rights*, and *dignity* through playing and discussing three songs:
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- Rights of Man
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- The Minstrel Boy
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- Hard Times, Come Again no More
Listen on the Blind Skeleton Podcast page!
Lyrics
Rights of Man
(James Connoly)
I speak with candour one night in slumber,
My mind did wander near to Athlone,
To that centre station of the Irish nation,
Where a congregation unto me was shown,
Beyond my counting upon a mountain,
Near to a fountain that clearly ran,
The earth did tremble I’ll not dissemble,
As they assembled for the Rights of Man.
All clad in green I thought I seen,
A virtuous Queen that was grave and old,
Saying children dear do not fear,
But come and hear what I will unfold,
This fertile country for seven centuries,
Since Strongbow’s entry into our land,
Has been kept under by foes outnumbered,
And robbed and plundered of the Rights of Man.
My cause you chided and so derided,
When all divided alas you know,
And in disorder round Erin’s border,
Strife grief and murder has laid you low,
Let each communion detest disunion,
And in love and union join hand in hand,
Believe in Graine and proud Britannia,
No more shall rob you of the Rights of Man.
Through the azure sky I then did spy,
A man to fly and he fast descends,
Straightway comes down upon the ground,
Where Erin round had her bosom friends,
His dazzling mitre and cross was brighter,
Than the stars at night or the midday sun,
And in accents rare I do declare,
He prayed success unto the Rights of Man.
When his prayer was ended he condescended,
His hand to lend it in freedom’s cause,
He said I’ll aid you and always lead you,
And still persuade you to Christian laws.
When in affliction or sad restriction,
My benediction with uplifted hand,
I may explain it you shall obtain it,
And always gain it with the Rights of Man.
Then the population and congregation,
In exultation agreed to part,
They shook hands like brothers and kissed each other,
While friends smothered each Irish heart.
They separated, exhilarated,
And animated at what went on,
And as day was breaking poor Shiels awaking,
Cried still be true unto the Rights of Man.
The Minstrel Boy
The Minstrel boy to the war is gone,
In the ranks of death you’ll find him,
His father’s sword he has girded on,
And his wild harp slung behind him
“Land of Song!” said the warrior bard,
“Tho’ all the world betrays thee,
One sword at least, thy rights shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee!”
The Minstrel fell! But the foe man’s chain
Could not bring his proud soul under,
The harp he loved ne’er spoke again,
For he tore its chords asunder
And said “No chains shall sully thee,
Thou soul of love and bravery!
Thy songs were made for the pure and free,
They shall never sound in slavery!”
Hard Times, Come Again no More
(Stephen Foster)
Let us pause in life’s pleasures and count its many tears
While we all sup sorrow with the poor
There’s a song that will linger forever in our ears
Oh Hard times come again no more
Tis the song, the sigh of the weary
Hard times, hard times, come again no more
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door
Oh hard times come again no more
While we seek mirth and beauty and music bright and gay
There are frail forms fainting at the door
Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say
Oh hard times come again no more
Tis the song, the sigh of the weary
Hard times, hard times, come again no more
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door
Oh hard times come again no more
Tis a sigh that is wafted across the troubled wave
Tis a wail that is heard upon the shore
Tis a dirge that is murmured around the lowly grave
Oh hard times come again no more
Tis the song, the sigh of the weary
Hard times, hard times, come again no more
Many days you have lingered around my cabin door
Oh hard times come again no more
Oh hard times come again no more