Irish traditional song lyrics — collected by Beer Belly Band.
I don’t know these Irishmen they call the six of Birmingham
I only know that someone lied in that court when those men were tried
And I don’t why justice failed and Irishmen wound up in jail
I only know that someone lied and those six men still wait inside
Sixteen years is a long, long time but I believe that the greatest crime
Was you and me we did not care we thought maybe they deserved to be there
So we all sang about Nelson Mandela, South Africa Apartheid
South America as well as any kind of politics, but said nothing about the Birmingham Six
Now we all admit our shame we didn’t fall for the patriot game
We left them there, the years went by, we didn’t care if they lived or died
Now we know they are innocent and we wait for those in
Government, to give them back their dignity, and release them unconditionally.
I don’t know these Irishmen they call the six of Birmingham
I only know that someone lied in that court when those men were tried
And I don’t why justice failed and Irishmen wound up in jail
I only know that someone lied and those six men still wait inside
Sixteen years is a long, long time but I believe that the greatest crime
Was you and me we did not care we thought maybe they deserved to be there