The Irish government once repealed a mandate after a grassroots movement of Irish people opposing it. This is their glory story and a vision for the future. Special thanks to Séamus O'Tuathaigh for the detailed interview on the movement's history which helped me write this song.
lyrics
We live in brutal times;
can’t afford to rent or buy, can’t afford to stay warm
While the landlords feast and thrive
and their cronies on their thrones try to blame it on the war
But you are far too wise;
you can see their wicked games, and you’ve heard it all before
You’ve a right to be inspired;
for we rose up and took control not so very long ago
And just when hope is gone,
and you think we’d better off if we burned the country down
Remember how we won before;
we got our way when we stood our common ground;
and there is time for us to turn this thing around
Glory, glory, we stopped the water charges, and we will do it again
Glory, glory, we stopped the water charges, and we will do it again
It was 2014
The Irish government announced a new law to be rolled out
For water we’d be charged a fee
No special programmes for the poor, so hands off the waterspout
With costs as they are now
Can you imagine what those bills would have looked like today?
We didn’t all know how
but the government decreed every citizen would pay
We said, water is a human right;
It’s in our blood and in our brain; our taxes fund the water main;
There’s plenty falling from the sky
You say it’s for the Earth, we’re calling out your lie
You try to squeeze the poor, your mandate we’ll defy
We’re on an island for fuck’s sake, we won’t run dry
Glory, glory, we stopped the water charges, and we will do it again
Glory, glory, we stopped the water charges, and we will do it again
The Irish people would not obey
The working class all raised our fists the women led us to resist, we said
We won’t pay, no way (we won't pay, no way)
The population which complied was below 50%
So then there came the threats
They said we’ll take you into court, no water til you pay your debts
It was echoed by the Press (echoed by the Press)
We launched a leafletting campaign all their tactics to address
200,000 mobilised
The protests gave us strength and hope, but this called for a greater scope
The tip-off networks kept us wise
We blocked the trucks from putting water meters in
When guards showed up, we stood together once again
Three million non-paying Irish people made us win
Glory, glory, we stopped the water charges, and we will do it again
Glory, glory, we stopped the water charges, and we will do it again
They can’t stop us when we work together
No, they can’t take us all in a fight
It counts to protest and be vocal
But it matters as well that we pull it off right
With tactics specific to what they throw our way
A working-class network could well seize the day
Don't rely on politicians to fight for our fight
'Cause it’s far past time to make housing a right!
Glory, glory, we stopped the water charges, and we will do it again
Glory, glory, we stopped the water charges, and we will do it again
We will do it again!
credits
from Like a Tide Upon the Land,
released February 1, 2023
Words and music by Melanie Gruben
Co-songwriting by Kelly Nygren and Trace Bivens
Rhythm guitar and lead vocals by Melanie Gruben
Harmonies arranged and performed by Jessie M.
Fiddle by Jessie M.
Drums by Tony Roche
Mandolin by Dave Clancy
Upright bass by Nicolás Ojeda
Tracking engineering by Dominic Chappell
Post-production sound engineering by Cyrus Rua and Tom Waltz
Album art by Cyrus Rua
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