Little Armalite
"Little Armalite"(also known as"My Little Armalite"or"Me Little Armalite") is anIrish rebel songwhich praises theArmalite AR-18rifle that was widely used by theProvisional Irish Republican Army(IRA) as part of the paramilitary'sarmed campaigninNorthern Irelandduringthe Troubles.[1][2]One recording of the song, by Wolfhound, was released on7 "in 1975.[3][4]
Background[edit]
The song dates from the early 1970's, when theProvisional Irish Republican Army(IRA) illegallyimportedvarious forms of weaponry, including theArmalite AR-18rifle, from theUnited States.The ArmaLite AR-18 was for many years the most lethal weapon available to the IRA; for this reason, it became an iconic symbol of the IRA'sarmed campaign.After the song was released,ArmaLitepurportedly purchased 1,000 copies of a recording of it and distributed among their salesmen to boost weapons purchases.[5][6]Writer Jim Dooley described "Little Armalite" as a "amusing and boastful rallying song".[7]Historian Marc Mulholland described the song as embodying "sentiments of revenge [which] loomed large in the motivations of IRA volunteers".[8]
Lyrics[edit]
And it's down Along theFalls Road,that's where I long to be,
Lying in the dark with aProvocompany,
A comrade on my left and another on my right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.
I was stopped by a soldier, said he, You are a swine,
He hit me with his rifle and he kicked me in the groin,
I begged and I pleaded, sure me manners were polite
But all the time I'm thinking of me little Armalite.
And it's down in TheBogsidethat's where I long to be,
Lying in the dark with a Provo company,
A comrade on my left and another on my right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.
Sure a braveRUCman came marching up into our street
Six hundredBritish soldiershe had lined up at his feet
"Come out, ye cowardlyFenians",said he," come out and fight ".
But he cried, "I'm only joking", when he heard the Armalite.
Sure it's down in Kilwilkie,[a]that's where I long to be,
Lying in the dark with a Provo company,
A comrade on my left and another on my right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.
Sure, the army came to visit me, 'twas in the early hours,
WithSaladinsandSaracensandFerret armoured cars
They thought they had me cornered, but I gave them all a fright
With the armour piercing bullets of my little Armalite.
And it's down in theNew Lodgethat's where I long to be,
Lying in the dark with a Provo company,
A comrade on me left and another on me right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.
WhenTuzocame toBelfast,he said, The battle's won,[b]
SaidGeneral Ford,We're winning sir, we have them on the run.
But corporals and privates on patrol at night,
Said, Send for reinforcements, it's the bloody Armalite.[c]
And it's down inCrossmaglen,that's where I long to be,
Lying in the dark with a Provo company,
A comrade on me left and another on me right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Morrison, Danny(2004).Rebel columns.Pale Publications. p. 40.ISBN978-1-900960-27-4.
- ^Patrick, Derrick (1981).Fetch Felix: the fight against the Ulster bombers, 1976-1977.Hamish Hamilton.p. 32.ISBN978-0-241-10371-5.
- ^"Wolfhound - My Little Armalite".
- ^"The Wolfhound".theballadeers.Archived fromthe originalon 2 July 2020.Retrieved2 June2016.
- ^Bishop, Chris (1998).Guns in Combat.Edison, N.J.: Chartwell Books, Inc.ISBN0-7858-0844-2.
- ^Harvey, David(2002).Celtic geographies: old culture, new times.Routledge.p. 187.ISBN978-0-415-22397-3.
- ^https:// google.co.uk/books/edition/Red_Set/HVk1DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Little+Armalite&pg=PT97&printsec=frontcover
- ^https:// google.co.uk/books/edition/Northern_Ireland_A_Very_Short_Introducti/y2laquePcOcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Little+Armalite+certainly+sentiments+of+revenge&pg=PT98&printsec=frontcover
- ^Association, David Young, Press (28 March 2016)."Police pelted with petrol bombs in Lurgan's Kilwilkie estate".The Irish News.
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