The Limerick Soviet lyrics

1919 was the year the trouble all went down

The Defence of the Realm Act was invoked by the Crown

They imposed martial law upon old Limerick town

And they made the local people foot the bill

The local trades and workers council met for 12 long hours

And said we will not recognise the British Army’s powers

This city is the people’s, we reclaim it now as ours

It ever was and shall be ever still

We are the Limerick Soviet

We answer only to the people’s plea

We care no more for their martial law

Than the British Army cares for you and me

The printing workers laboured through the darkness of the night

To urge the population to resist the army’s might

Within two hours the city walls proclaimed a General Strike

And Limerick responded to the call

Workers in their thousands were parading through the streets

The Irish Times was horrified and called for their defeat

But the people were in charge now not the Army or elite

They held the torch of freedom for us all

We are the Limerick Soviet

We answer only to the people’s plea

We care no more for their martial law

Than the British Army cares for you and me

The Soviet of Limerick it lasted two weeks long

A forgotten revolution overlooked by history’s song

John Cronin and his strike committee’s beacon has not gone

It lights the path to justice for us still

We are the Limerick Soviet

We answer only to the people’s plea

We care no more for their martial law

Than the British Army cares for you and me

• Artist:Unknown Artist (English)