THIS PLACE
By Declan Murphy
Dedicated to John Hume
 
In bygone days of yore, I used to love this place
Men of Ulster side by side, led and drawn by God’s Grace
Summertime brought cause for great colourful celebration
As we sought to preserve our faith, and our fledgling nation
 
Then 69 saw riots, in an effort to besiege
And from there came bomb and bullet pull us to our knees
But we’d reserve the right for our nation to defend
So our children from such attack would not then have to contend
 
Shook to the core still, from when the times were wild
Tired & bitter, but resolute that I want better for my child
The good, the bad, the ugly all must be reconciled
 
I wish that they would disappear, the weary lines upon my face
In this time, and in this place
 
'Neath the shroud of the foggy dew I used love this place
To swing the ash or kick a ball and then shake off the chase
The Ardscoil we would frequent for the Ceili dance
Where most would be more focused on finding some romance
 
But our cultural expression was sought to be repressed
Yet with those who’d fight our corner we were greatly blessed
Park swings tied up on Sunday’s and the vote denied us all
We stood up and were counted to answer freedom’s call
 
Shook to the core still, from when the times were wild
Tired & bitter, but resolute that I want better for my child
The good, the bad, the ugly all must be reconciled
 
I wish that they would disappear, the weary lines upon my face
In this time, and in this place
 
Bloody Sundays, Bloody Fridays, the week was painted red
We may often sit and wonder what might have been instead
Families torn apart and divisions ran true and deep
A legacy that steals any hope of quiet sleep
 
A time when everything for everyone was there to lose
Fates to be determined by the job or faith you choose
In our darkest moments we could see no reason or no rhyme
From the nightmare we must wake, there must come a better time
 
Shook to the core still, from when the times were wild
Tired & bitter, but resolute that I want better for my child
The good, the bad, the ugly all must be reconciled
 
I wish that they would disappear, the weary lines upon my face
In this time, and in this place
 
With arms laid down the jail doors opened, a bitter pill for some
But what rankles now will disappear as time whence we are from
The olive branches touch for which there is no disgrace
As all now take some stock and offer up some space
 
We must cherish those we’ve lost but extinguish the hate alone
For nothing can be carried that’s etched in heavy stone
To reach for the sky we must together shed the load
So future generations get the least that they are owed
 
We look to the future, from when the times were wild
For we both want what’s better, each for our own child
The good, the bad, the ugly will now be reconciled
 
A new course now is what we must, all together chase
In this time, and in this place

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