Hi, new to the site but think it's great. just wondered if anyone knows why the line "the love of one's country is a terrible thing" seems to be the preferred option now. when i was taught this song (and thats over 30 years ago) we always sang "a beautiful thing" which indeed it is. its also the same on all the old rebel l.p.s i have from the sixtys, also i vaguely remember another verse which began "i dont mind a bit if i shoot down police"

BEANNACHT DE AGAT.

For what it''s worth- I first met the song in about'67- and the Clancy's sang terrible
Clicky

This would tie in wie W.B Yeats. Easter 1916
"A Terrible beauty is born"

Can't help but think that Behan was echoing Yeats.

Hope this helps

Easter 1916

Ach- fookit, Those of us who are old enough to know Bobby D know his version.

The lyrics of "With God on our side"

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
T�L.

Sorry ye couldnae find a more eloquent reply

BTW- you have yourself as a celt in the land of scots.

Now yer actually daft enough tae think that Scots urnae celts?

Jaysus, even that daft f'ck Ian Pishley widnae make that mistake

hi, i remember that aswell, must be something about political correctness. Personally i favour the older version, its got more passon and a directness that is lacking.

"daft" ah well, i suppose you are more to be pitied than scolded, the celts, the scots, the picts and the gael are now regarded as "a people" but were in better days individual tribes. Thanks anyway for going off at a tangent, it's about the lyrics is it not.

About the lyrics- I first learned them over 40 years ago.
Terrible is correct- Behan was a true writer- he knew the power of the words.
Still it's about the lyrics
lyrics
or
lyrics
Behan was a fine writer- he knew the power of words, which is why he went for the "Terrible", which here is almost oxymoronic.
Still- glad to know that we both love a fine piece of work

thanks for the input.

I always thought that he was saying that its terrible because it made a 16 year old through his life away on a weak poorly planed campaign, and that it was Englands/ DeValera's fault that he died playing the "Patriot Game"

but what do i know

I don't think he was 16 at the time anyway. That part of the song is a mistake.

17 according to wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fergal_O%27Hanlon

i though he was 21. Heard that somewhere, could be wrong though.

Young Fergal hadn't quite reached the age of 18, but as brave Bobby Sands M.P. told us, "no one is too old, or too young to do something"

NOTHING IS OVER 'TILL WE DECIDE IT.

Many other people would say that he was too young and that he didnt do anything