County Tyrone native Paul Brady used his song ‘The Island’ to draw some comparisons between the Troubles and the civil war in Lebanon that began in 1975. A pacifistic song highlighting the tragedy of the cycles of violence that Ireland had been experiencing for centuries, it contrasts the peaceful image of a couple making love on an island with acts of terrorism and war.
Lyrics
The Island (Paul Brady)
They say the skies of Lebanon are burning. Those mighty cedars bleeding in the heat. They’re showing pictures on the television. Women and children dying in the street And we’re still at it in our own place. Still trying to reach the future through the past. Still trying to carve tomorrow from a tombstone…
But Hey! Don’t listen to me!. This wasn’t meant to be no sad song. We’ve heard too much of that before. Right now I only want to be here with you. Till the morning dew comes falling. I want to take you to the island. And trace your footprints in the sand. And in the evening when the sun goes down We’ll make love to the sound of the ocean
They’re raising banners over by the markets Whitewashing slogans on the shipyard walls Witchdoctors praying for a mighty showdown No way our holy flag is gonna fall Up here we sacrifice our children To feed the worn-out dreams of yesterday And teach them dying will lead us into glory…
Now I know us plain folks don’t see all the story. And I know this peace and love’s just copping out. And I guess these young boys dying in the ditches. Is just what being free is all about. And how this twisted wreckage down on main street. Will bring us all together in the end. And we’ll go marching down the road to freedom…. Freedom
To the bright side of the road We’ll be lovers once again On the bright side of the road
Little darlin’, come with me Won’t you help me share my load From the dark end of the street To the bright side of the road And into this life we’re born Baby, sometimes, sometimes we don’t know why And time seems to go by so fast In the twinkling of an eye Let’s enjoy it while we can (let’s enjoy it while we can) Won’t you help me share my load (help me share my load) From the dark end of the street To the bright side of the road Again
And into this life we’re born
Baby sometimes, baby sometimes we don’t know why, don’t know Time seems to go by so fast In the twinkling of an eye Let’s enjoy it while we can (let’s enjoy it while we can) And help me sing my song (and help me sing my song) Little darlin’, come alone On the bright side of the road From the dark end of the street (from the dark end of the street)To the bright side of the road (to the bright side of the road) Little darlin’, come alone On the bright side of the road, come on dear Alright
From the dark end of the street (from the dark end of the street) To the bright side of the road (To the bright side of the road) We’ll be lovers once again On the bright side of the road Oh, we’ll be, we’ll be lovers once again On the bright side of the road We’ll be lovers once again On the bright side of the road
When I first saw you, I saw love And the first time you touched me, I felt love And after all this time You’re still the one I love, mmm, yeah-yeah
Looks like we made it Look how far we’ve come, my baby We mighta took the long way We knew we’d get there someday
They said, “I bet they’ll never make it” But just look at us holding on We’re still together, still going strong
You’re still the one I run to The one that I belong to You’re still the one I want for life (You’re still the one) You’re still the one that I love The only one I dream of You’re still the one I kiss goodnight
Ain’t nothin’ better We beat the odds together I’m glad we didn’t listen Look at what we would be missin’
They said, “I bet they’ll never make it” But just look at us holding on We’re still together, still going strong
You’re still the one I run to The one that I belong to You’re still the one I want for life (You’re still the one) You’re still the one that I love The only one I dream of You’re still the one I kiss goodnight
You’re still the one
Yeah (you’re still the one) You’re still the one I run to The one that I belong to You’re still the one I want for life, oh yeah (You’re still the one) You’re still the one that I love The only one I dream of You’re still the one I kiss goodnight
I’m so glad we made it Look how far we’ve come, my baby
