Christy Moore
St. Valentine’s day comes around once a year,
All our thought turn to love as the day it draws near,
When sweethearts and darlings, husbands and wives,
Pledge love and devotion for the rest of their lives.
As day turns to evening soon nighttime does fall,
Young people preparing for the Valentine’s Ball,
As the night rings with laughter some people still mourn
The 48 children who never came home.
CHORUS
Have we forgotten the suffering and pain
the survivors and victims of the fire in Artane,
the mothers and fathers forever to mourn
the 48 children who never came home.
Down to the Stardust they all made their way
The bouncers stood back as they lined up to pay
The records are spinning there’s dancing as well
Just how the fire started sure no one can tell.
In a matter of seconds confusion did reign
The room was in darkness fire exits were chained
The firefighters wept for they could not hide,
Their anger and sorrow for those left inside.
CHORUS
All around the city the bad news it spread
There’s a fire in the Stardust there’s 48 dead
Hundreds of children are injured and maimed
And all just because the fire exits were chained.
Our leaders were shocked, grim statements were made
They shed tears in the graveyard as the bodies were laid
The victims have waited in vain for 4 years
It seems like our leaders shed crocodile tears.
CHORUS
Half a million was spent on solicitor’s fees,
A fortune to the owner and his family
It’s hard to believe not one penny came
To the working class people who suffered the pain.
Days turn to weeks and weeks turn to years
Our laws favour the rich or so it appears
A woman still waits for her lads to come home
Injustice breeds anger and that’s what’s been done.
CHORUS
Provided by a helpful individual & posted from the US outside Irish jurisdiction.This song was withdrawn from the shelves shortly after it was released due to a High Court decision. The Stardust case may well have been Sub Judice at the time. I remember clearly when this tragedy occurred – someone I know was injured in the fire.