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Been thinking about some of the stuff in this Ricky Bobby piece for a bit, and was related to the Famine Song being played at a Ibrox last Rangers v Celtic game which touches on many of the points here.
It’s a long thread, so mute and catch up later if you feel like it. https://twitter.com/zeshankenzo/status/1388076685745168385
It’s a long thread, so mute and catch up later if you feel like it. https://twitter.com/zeshankenzo/status/1388076685745168385
1)
I seen that there were some folk upset at ‘The Famine Song’ being played over the tannoys at Ibrox last time round.
Others were backing it stating it’s either just the Beach Boys or that it’s a new version with lyric changes.
I seen that there were some folk upset at ‘The Famine Song’ being played over the tannoys at Ibrox last time round.
Others were backing it stating it’s either just the Beach Boys or that it’s a new version with lyric changes.
2)
Going to flesh out the issue here...
It’s related to The Billy Boys, UEFA directives and the High Court.
Takeaway from this relevant to Famine Song is racism ‘historical and sociological context’ and the song as recognised with ‘general import and sentiment’.
Going to flesh out the issue here...
It’s related to The Billy Boys, UEFA directives and the High Court.
Takeaway from this relevant to Famine Song is racism ‘historical and sociological context’ and the song as recognised with ‘general import and sentiment’.
3)
Billy Boys was banned by UEFA in 2006 after a back and forth with the club where the ‘somewhat tolerated in Scotland’ line was appealed by UEFA.
See thread below.
https://twitter.com/zeshankenzo/status/1164912106522783744?s=21
Billy Boys was banned by UEFA in 2006 after a back and forth with the club where the ‘somewhat tolerated in Scotland’ line was appealed by UEFA.
See thread below.
https://twitter.com/zeshankenzo/status/1164912106522783744?s=21
4)
Whole thread is relevant, but points of note would be that the Billy Boys chant was harking back to a gang in the 1920s/30s connected to fascism and the KKK. https://twitter.com/zeshankenzo/status/1164914341163995136
Whole thread is relevant, but points of note would be that the Billy Boys chant was harking back to a gang in the 1920s/30s connected to fascism and the KKK. https://twitter.com/zeshankenzo/status/1164914341163995136
5)
“TBB song must be taken in its historical & sociological context... it is obvious the song, whatever the lyrics, is far from being a well intentioned song... people from Scotland when hearing this will automatically connect it... MELODY IS SUFFICIENT TO MAKE AN ASSOCIATION”
“TBB song must be taken in its historical & sociological context... it is obvious the song, whatever the lyrics, is far from being a well intentioned song... people from Scotland when hearing this will automatically connect it... MELODY IS SUFFICIENT TO MAKE AN ASSOCIATION”
6)
Worth highlighting that the directives given to Rangers were ignored for many years which only served to enable the chanting to continue.
Bizarrely in 2014 Linfield used them as Scotland ignored them.
Worth highlighting that the directives given to Rangers were ignored for many years which only served to enable the chanting to continue.
Bizarrely in 2014 Linfield used them as Scotland ignored them.
7)
For years Rangers fans mused over changing the lyrics, not knowing/ignoring that any form of the song was strictly prohibited.
One time head of SFA Gordon Smith
‘Palatable for UEFA ears...”
For years Rangers fans mused over changing the lyrics, not knowing/ignoring that any form of the song was strictly prohibited.
One time head of SFA Gordon Smith
‘Palatable for UEFA ears...”
8)
Similar moves are afoot with ‘The Famine Song’.
2008 The Famine Song went through the High Court.
“Even if he did not know all the words, he would be well acquainted with their general import and sentiment”
Similar moves are afoot with ‘The Famine Song’.
2008 The Famine Song went through the High Court.
“Even if he did not know all the words, he would be well acquainted with their general import and sentiment”
9)
As the Billy Boys taps straight in to 1920s Scotland, so too does the famine song.
(Lyrics below)
As the Billy Boys taps straight in to 1920s Scotland, so too does the famine song.
(Lyrics below)
10)
In 1923 the infamous ‘Menace Of The Irish Race’ was presented regarding the repatriation of Irish-Catholic’s.
The general import and sentiment was ‘The Famine is Over Why Don’t You Go Home?’
In 1923 the infamous ‘Menace Of The Irish Race’ was presented regarding the repatriation of Irish-Catholic’s.
The general import and sentiment was ‘The Famine is Over Why Don’t You Go Home?’
11)
Excerpts from ‘menace’:
“Irish-Catholic’s cannot be assimilated... they’re segregated by reason of their race... and loyalty to Rome...”
Excerpts from ‘menace’:
“Irish-Catholic’s cannot be assimilated... they’re segregated by reason of their race... and loyalty to Rome...”
12)
They plan on reconditioning Scotland and Glasgow - the second city of the empire.
They plan on reconditioning Scotland and Glasgow - the second city of the empire.
13)
‘An Irish man never hesitates to seek relief from charities and local authorities.’
‘They are poor through intemperance and improvidence, and they show little inclination to raise themselves in the social scale.’
‘An Irish man never hesitates to seek relief from charities and local authorities.’
‘They are poor through intemperance and improvidence, and they show little inclination to raise themselves in the social scale.’
14)
That stock of Irishman being a different race was rife at that time, in particular.
They were racialized - race was foisted upon them.
That stock of Irishman being a different race was rife at that time, in particular.
They were racialized - race was foisted upon them.
15)
Depictions of them at the time were not ideological or theological, they were physically different and often painted as simian in cartoons.
See Mr G O’Rilla
Depictions of them at the time were not ideological or theological, they were physically different and often painted as simian in cartoons.
See Mr G O’Rilla
16)
“In those days Irish immigrants had much in common with the African Americans”
“Smoked Irish” = African American
“Negroes turned inside out” = Irish
“In those days Irish immigrants had much in common with the African Americans”
“Smoked Irish” = African American
“Negroes turned inside out” = Irish
17)
It is in this context that the racism towards the Irish and ‘The Famine Song’ is understood.
Jim Traynor wrote a price on it, seemingly oblivious to its implications.
I urge you to read this https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/isnt-there-enough-to-worry-about-without-beating-991268.amp
It is in this context that the racism towards the Irish and ‘The Famine Song’ is understood.
Jim Traynor wrote a price on it, seemingly oblivious to its implications.
I urge you to read this
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/isnt-there-enough-to-worry-about-without-beating-991268.amp
18)
David Edgar of the Rangers Supporters Trust at the time, couldn’t have been more wrong
David Edgar of the Rangers Supporters Trust at the time, couldn’t have been more wrong
19)
In 2012 the BBC apologised for airing the melody of the famine song (played at Ibrox only the other week)
In 2012 the BBC apologised for airing the melody of the famine song (played at Ibrox only the other week)
20)
In 2017 more controversy around the Famine song erupted as an Orange March played the tune which was then sung along to by fans present.
Note it was the ‘Famine song’ and not ‘4 lads had a dream’ that was sung.
In 2017 more controversy around the Famine song erupted as an Orange March played the tune which was then sung along to by fans present.
Note it was the ‘Famine song’ and not ‘4 lads had a dream’ that was sung.
21)
When UEFA caught Linfield singing it, they also used the Billy Boys reasoning that that even if certain lyrics aren’t heard, it’s still offensive. https://twitter.com/Zeshankenzo/status/1166427490933514243
When UEFA caught Linfield singing it, they also used the Billy Boys reasoning that that even if certain lyrics aren’t heard, it’s still offensive. https://twitter.com/Zeshankenzo/status/1166427490933514243
22)
In 2002 the Church of Scotland apologised for Menace Of The Irish Race.
In 2002 the Church of Scotland apologised for Menace Of The Irish Race.
23)
It is not myself opening old wounds, and certainly not the Kirk, it’s others harking back to that time through chants and seedy ways of slipping it through when it’s best left behind.
Was it a wise move to play it before the last game at a time Rangers are fighting racism?
It is not myself opening old wounds, and certainly not the Kirk, it’s others harking back to that time through chants and seedy ways of slipping it through when it’s best left behind.
Was it a wise move to play it before the last game at a time Rangers are fighting racism?
24)
“These songs are loaded with meaning, even if not being sung”
Fans pierced the PR veil by accepting Kudela covering his mouth was an underhand way to offer racist abuse, the playing of these songs, chants and offence is the same underhand move.
“These songs are loaded with meaning, even if not being sung”
Fans pierced the PR veil by accepting Kudela covering his mouth was an underhand way to offer racist abuse, the playing of these songs, chants and offence is the same underhand move.
Football in Scotland has long been entangled in religion and politics, and the racism highlighted isn’t a ‘hook in a fabricated conflation’ it has a long history and is always either ignored or diluted by articles like this @RickyBobby1872
@RickyBobby1872
In a nod to the Kamara racism, Ricky Bobby, Edgar, Jim Traynor and others are Kudela’s hand.
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