"Little Armalite" (also known as "My Little Armalite" or "Me Little Armalite") is an Irish rebel song which praises the Armalite AR-18 rifle that was widely used by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) as part of the paramilitary's armed campaign in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. [1] [2] One recording of the song, by Wolfhound, was released on 7" in 1975. [3] [4]
The song dates from the early 1970's, when the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) illegally imported various forms of weaponry, including the Armalite AR-18 rifle, from the United States. The ArmaLite AR-18 was for many years the most lethal weapon available to the IRA; for this reason, it became an iconic symbol of the IRA's armed campaign. After the song was released, ArmaLite purportedly purchased 1,000 copies of a recording of it and distributed among their salesmen to boost weapons purchases. [5] [6] Writer Jim Dooley described "Little Armalite" as a "amusing and boastful rallying song". [7] Historian Marc Mulholland described the song as embodying "sentiments of revenge [which] loomed large in the motivations of IRA volunteers". [8]
And it's down Along the
Falls Road, that's where I long to be,
Lying in the dark with a
Provo company,
A comrade on my left and another on my right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.
I was stopped by a soldier, said he, You are a swine,
He hit me with his rifle and he kicked me in the groin,
I begged and I pleaded, sure me manners were polite
But all the time I'm thinking of me little Armalite.
And it's down in The
Bogside that's where I long to be,
Lying in the dark with a Provo company,
A comrade on my left and another on my right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.
Sure a brave
RUC man came marching up into our street
Six hundred
British soldiers he had lined up at his feet
"Come out, ye cowardly
Fenians", said he, "come out and fight".
But he cried, "I'm only joking", when he heard the Armalite.
Sure it's down in Kilwilkie,
[a] that's where I long to be,
Lying in the dark with a Provo company,
A comrade on my left and another on my right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.
Sure, the army came to visit me, 'twas in the early hours,
With
Saladins and
Saracens and
Ferret armoured cars
They thought they had me cornered, but I gave them all a fright
With the armour piercing bullets of my little Armalite.
And it's down in the
New Lodge that's where I long to be,
Lying in the dark with a Provo company,
A comrade on me left and another on me right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.
When
Tuzo came to
Belfast, he said, The battle's won,
[b]
Said
General Ford, We're winning sir, we have them on the run.
But corporals and privates on patrol at night,
Said, Send for reinforcements, it's the bloody Armalite.
[c]
And it's down in
Crossmaglen, that's where I long to be,
Lying in the dark with a Provo company,
A comrade on me left and another on me right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
"Little Armalite" (also known as "My Little Armalite" or "Me Little Armalite") is an Irish rebel song which praises the Armalite AR-18 rifle that was widely used by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) as part of the paramilitary's armed campaign in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. [1] [2] One recording of the song, by Wolfhound, was released on 7" in 1975. [3] [4]
The song dates from the early 1970's, when the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) illegally imported various forms of weaponry, including the Armalite AR-18 rifle, from the United States. The ArmaLite AR-18 was for many years the most lethal weapon available to the IRA; for this reason, it became an iconic symbol of the IRA's armed campaign. After the song was released, ArmaLite purportedly purchased 1,000 copies of a recording of it and distributed among their salesmen to boost weapons purchases. [5] [6] Writer Jim Dooley described "Little Armalite" as a "amusing and boastful rallying song". [7] Historian Marc Mulholland described the song as embodying "sentiments of revenge [which] loomed large in the motivations of IRA volunteers". [8]
And it's down Along the
Falls Road, that's where I long to be,
Lying in the dark with a
Provo company,
A comrade on my left and another on my right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.
I was stopped by a soldier, said he, You are a swine,
He hit me with his rifle and he kicked me in the groin,
I begged and I pleaded, sure me manners were polite
But all the time I'm thinking of me little Armalite.
And it's down in The
Bogside that's where I long to be,
Lying in the dark with a Provo company,
A comrade on my left and another on my right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.
Sure a brave
RUC man came marching up into our street
Six hundred
British soldiers he had lined up at his feet
"Come out, ye cowardly
Fenians", said he, "come out and fight".
But he cried, "I'm only joking", when he heard the Armalite.
Sure it's down in Kilwilkie,
[a] that's where I long to be,
Lying in the dark with a Provo company,
A comrade on my left and another on my right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.
Sure, the army came to visit me, 'twas in the early hours,
With
Saladins and
Saracens and
Ferret armoured cars
They thought they had me cornered, but I gave them all a fright
With the armour piercing bullets of my little Armalite.
And it's down in the
New Lodge that's where I long to be,
Lying in the dark with a Provo company,
A comrade on me left and another on me right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.
When
Tuzo came to
Belfast, he said, The battle's won,
[b]
Said
General Ford, We're winning sir, we have them on the run.
But corporals and privates on patrol at night,
Said, Send for reinforcements, it's the bloody Armalite.
[c]
And it's down in
Crossmaglen, that's where I long to be,
Lying in the dark with a Provo company,
A comrade on me left and another on me right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)