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Mrs Barbour’s Army is another of these songs that the first time I heard it I just had to learn it. Only Alistair could write a song that deals with the topics of: anti-war, women’s equality, sectarianism and class politics and not make it sound forced or preachy!
This song was on the Red Clydeside masterpiece of Alistair Hulett and Dave Swarbrick: www.alistairhulett.com/product/red-clydeside-cd/
For more information on Red Clydeside: www.sath.org.uk/edscot/www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandshistory/20thand21stcenturies/redclydeside/index.html
Information on Mary Barbour and the 1915 Rent Strike: remembermarybarbour.wordpress.com/mary-barbour-rent-strike-1915/
I don’t normally pay much attention to who statues are dedicated to – it’s usually some military bloke on a horse. But I was really excited that on International Womens’ Day 2018 that a statue to Mary Barbour was unveiled and that Govan school kids sang Mrs Barbour’s Army! Alistair would have been so chuffed.
lyrics
Chorus
'Cos I'm frae Govan an' ye're frae Partick
This yin here's fae Bridge o' Weir and thon's fae Kinning Park
There's some that's prods, there's some that's catholic
But we're Mrs. Barbour's Army and we're here tae dae the wark
In the tenements o' Glesga in the year one nine one five
It was one lang bloody struggle tae keep ourselves alive
We were coontin' oot the coppers tae buy wor scraps o' food
When the landlords put the rent up just because they could
A' the factories were hummin', there was overtime galore
But wages they were driven doon tae subsidise the war
Oot came Mrs. Barbour from her wee bit single end
She said, I'll organise the lassies if I cannae rouse the men
Mrs. Barbour made a poster sayin', We'll no' pay higher rent
Then chapped on every door of every Govan tenement
She said, Pit this in the windae an' when you hear me bang the drum
We'll run oot an' chase the factor a' the way tae kingdom come
When the poor wee soul cam roon' he was battered black and blue
By a regiment in pinnies that knew just what tae do
Mrs. Barbour organised the gaitherin' o' the clans
And they burst oot o' the steamie armed wi' pots an' fryin' pans
Mrs. Barbour's Army spread through Glesga like the plague
The maisters got the message and the message wisnae vague
While oor menfolk fight the Kaiser we'll stay hame and fight the war
Against the greedy bastards who keep grindin' doon the poor
If ye want tae stop conscription stand and fight the profiteers
Bring the hale big bloody sandpit crashin' doon aroon' their ears
We'll no' starve, said Mrs. Barbour, While the men we ca' wor ain
Are marchin aff tae hae their hairt's blood washed like watter doon a drain
Well it didnae take the government that lang tae realise
If you crack doon on the leaders then the rest will compromise
They arrested Mrs. Barbour and they clapped her in the jile
Then they made an awfy big mistake, they let her oot on bail
She ca'd the men oot o' the factories on the Clyde and on the Cart
They marched up tae the courthoose sayin', We'll tear the place apart
Mrs. Barbour's Army brought the maisters tae their knees
Wi' a regiment in pinnies backed by one in dungarees.
credits
from Bring out the Banners,
released March 11, 2019
Copyright – Alistair Hulett | Arranged – Paul Brown and Ian Bartlett |
Bodrhan – Played and made by Ian Bartlett | Vocals – Paul Brown, Ian Bartlett, Jean Reid and Jack Penman
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