Belfast Child
(Music : Traditional ,  Arrangement : Simple Minds,  Words : Simple Minds)

When my love said to me
Meet me down by the gallow tree
For it's sad news I bring
About this old town and all that it's offering
Some say troubles abound
Some day soon they're gonna pull the old town down

One day we'll return here,
When the Belfast Child sings again

Brothers, sisters where are you now
As I look for you right through the crowd
All my life here I've spent
With my faith in God the Church and the Government
But there's sadness abound
Some day soon they're gonna pull the old town down

One day we'll return here,
When the Belfast Child sings again
When the Belfast Child sings again

So come back Billy, won't you come on home
Come back Mary, you've been away so long
The streets are empty, and your mother's gone
The girls are crying, it's been oh so long
And your father's calling, come on home
Won't you come on home, won't you come on home

Come back people, you've been gone a while
And the war is raging, in the Emerald Isle
That's flesh and blood man, that's flesh and blood
All the girls are crying but all's not lost

The streets are empty, the streets are cold
Won't you come on home, won't you come on home

The streets are empty
Life goes on

One day we'll return here
When the Belfast Child sings again
When the Belfast Child sings again
--

Yes, I know - this isn't an old irish folk song, heck, it's not even old! But the scottish rock band Simple Minds did such a wonderful job with this song, and it gives one a real sad feeling for the Troubles that have plagued Ireland (and esp. N. Ireland) for all these years. For anyone who has ever heard this tune, I'm sure you know it's not your ordinary "rock song". In fact it is far from it. It is more a marriage of traditional values, storytelling lyrics, and down to earth music.
I recently learned that this song is based on a previous traditional arrangement, and if anyone has heard this song, and knows what tune it is based upon (the music, not the words), please email me as I am very interested to know: foxleap@fortunecity.com
Thanks!