John Maguire
I remember the show twenty-one years ago,
When John Kennedy paid us a visit.
Now the world’s rearranged – not improved, only changed –
But our heart’s in the same place – or is it?
CHORUS
Hey Ronnie Reagan, I’m black and I’m pagan,
I’m gay and I’m left and I’m free.
I’m a non-fundamentalist environmentalist,
Please don’t bother me.
You’re so cool, playing poker with death as the joker,
You’ve nerve, but you don’t reassure us.
With those paranoid vistas of mad Sandanistas,
Are you really defending Honduras?
You’ll be wearing the green down at Ballyporeen,
The town of the little potato.
Put your arms around Garret and dangle your carrot,
But you’ll never get me to join NATO .
CHORUS
Do you share my impression the world’s in recession,
There’s rather too much unemployment?
Still with Pershing and Cruise we’ll have nothing to lose,
But millions in missile deployment.
We can dig shelter holes when we’ve bartered our souls,
For security then we can shovel.
While the myth of our dreams turns to nightmares, it seems,
From the White House straight back to the hovel.
CHORUS
Since the Irish dimension has won your attention,
I ask myself just what’s your game.
Do your eyes share the tears of our last fifteen years,
Or is that just a vote-catcher’s gleam?
Your dollars may beckon, but I think we should reckon,
The cost of accepting your gold.
If we join your alliance, what price our defiance,
What’s left if our freedom is sold?
CHORUS