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The Shankill Butchers ride tonight
You better shut your windows tight
They're sharpening their cleavers and their knives
And taking all their whiskey by the pint
'Cause everybody knows
If you don't mind your mother's words
A wicked wind will blow
Your ribbons from your curls
Everybody moan
Everybody shake
The Shankill Butchers wanna catch you awake
They used to be just like me and you
They used to be sweet little boys
But something went horribly askew
Now killing is their only source of joy
'Cause everybody knows
If you don't mind your mother's words
A wicked wind will blow
Your ribbons from your curls
Everybody moan
Everybody shake
The Shankill Butchers wanna catch you awake
The Shankill Butchers on the rise
They're waiting 'til the dead of night
They're picking at their fingers with their knives
And wiping off their cleavers on their thighs
'Cause everybody knows
If you don't mind your mother's words
A wicked wind will blow
Your ribbons from your curls
Everybody moan
Everybody shake
The Shankill Butchers wanna catch you
The Shankill Butchers wanna cut you
The Shankill Butchers wanna catch you awake
Awake (x3)
The Shankill Butchers ride tonight
You better shut your windows tight
They're sharpening their cleavers and their knives
And taking all their whiskey by the pint
'Cause everybody knows
If you don't mind your mother's words
A wicked wind will blow
Your ribbons from your curls
Everybody moan
Everybody shake
The Shankill Butchers wanna catch you awake
They used to be just like me and you
They used to be sweet little boys
But something went horribly askew
Now killing is their only source of joy
'Cause everybody knows
If you don't mind your mother's words
A wicked wind will blow
Your ribbons from your curls
Everybody moan
Everybody shake
The Shankill Butchers wanna catch you awake
The Shankill Butchers on the rise
They're waiting 'til the dead of night
They're picking at their fingers with their knives
And wiping off their cleavers on their thighs
'Cause everybody knows
If you don't mind your mother's words
A wicked wind will blow
Your ribbons from your curls
Everybody moan
Everybody shake
The Shankill Butchers wanna catch you
The Shankill Butchers wanna cut you
The Shankill Butchers wanna catch you awake
Awake (x3)
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The Decembrists should not have recorded this song. I lived and grew up in Belfast during those times, we knew what could happen to you but it was never a bed time story and still is not this day. Utter Shite. This song means nothing. It is offensive. If you want to learn about the Shankill Butchers go read a freakin book, don't wax lyrical on this site about things you don't understand.
I think at this juncture, to understand the lyrics further, one should be aware that the conflict in the North of Ireland was never really a religious conflict, (so often portrayed by the media), but rather an ethnonational conflict...not a rare phenomena in Europe). The Shankill Butchers arose against a conflict between the indigenous Irish (Catholic) and the Protestant Settlers who were planted by Britain in the 17th century from Britain, who looked on the latter as an underclass and an object of persecution. This provided the political setting for the Shankill Butchers sick actions in Ireland.
I lived in Belfast in the 1970's and worked in the area where the Shankill Butchers operated.
I think the song is a bit sick. 'Constant' above said 'guys in ireland who used to go around killing catholics'. This raises a plethora of issues. The Shankill Butchers come from the Protestant Planters who were part of the Ulster Plantation. This was a process that occurred in the 17th century were the British drove Irish natives to the bogs and the moors where it was hoped that they would starve to death. The solution was to remove the natives from their land and replace them with English and Scottish settlers. The area is called 'Ulster' one of the old Gaelic provinces of Ireland. Politically the North East of the island of Ireland became divided between the indigenous Irish, and the British Planters who pushed them off their land and massacared them.
It is the latter group that the Shankill Butchers come from
The Shankill Butchers were never "insurgents". If that is to be labelled to any particular grouping during the Troubles, it'd undeniably have to go to the PIRA.
Furthermore, they were never "exhonerated", either. Lenny Murphy was never convicted of any murder in the first place, rather a firearms charge. He was shot by the Provisionals after he was released.
It should be noted, though, that these men (moreso Murphy) were never killing for any Loyalist cause. They were serial killers who enjoyed slowly killing their victims. Hell, on more than one occasion they killed Protestants believe them to be Catholics. Many in the Loyalist communities detested what they did as much as the Republicans.
Some of the other men were shot too, some even suspected by Protestants, whilst others were released in 1998 under the Good Friday Agreement. Not only they were freed, but Republican child killers and Loyalist psychopaths.
Alas, the price we have to pay for this so-called "peace". Brilliant, eh?
The imagery is brilliant...very dark, very Irish...
Haven't heard "a Cautionary Tale"...can't wait... :)