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Belfast Child Lyrics

When my love said to me
Meet me down by the gallow tree
For it's sad news I bring
About this old town and all that it’s offering
Some say trouble's abound
Some day soon they’re gonna pull the old town down
One day we’ll return here,
When the Belfast child sings again

Brothers sisters where are you now
As I look for you right through the crowd
All my life here I’ve spent
With my faith in God the church and the government
But there’s sadness abound
Some day soon they’re gonna pull the old town down

One day we’ll return here,
When the Belfast child sings again
When the Belfast child sings again

Some come back Billy, won’t you come on home
Come back mary, you’ve been away so long
The streets are empty, and your mother’s gone
The girls are crying, it’s been oh so long
And your father’s calling, come on home
Won’t you come on home, won’t you come on home

Ome back people, you’ve been gone a while
And the war is raging, in the emerald isle
That’s flesh and blood man, that’s flesh and blood
All the girls are crying but all’s not lost

The streets are empty, the streets are cold
Won’t you come on home, won’t you come on home

The streets are empty
Life goes on

One day we’ll return here
When the Belfast child sings again
When the Belfast child sings again
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7 Meanings

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Cover art for Belfast Child lyrics by Simple Minds

For those who don't realise, Billy is a stereotypical Protestant name in Northern Ireland, while Mary could be a Catholic. The music combines the harp and the flute, representing the blending of the two traditions. It's a plea for peace and reconciliation, not about who did what.

Cover art for Belfast Child lyrics by Simple Minds

This song was adapted from a traditional piece of music. I don't think there's any doubt as to what it means if you are from the British Isles but I guess a lot of young people today would be unaware of the internal war within Ireland. People fighting each other over religion. It turned what was a beautiful place into a series of wastelands.

I find it to be a sad, yet uplifting song. It's a song of hope.

it's not a series of wastelands you ignorant idiot. you ever been to ireland?

Not Valid

@SacrificialNewt The tune is from a traditional folk song called 'She moves through the fair'

Cover art for Belfast Child lyrics by Simple Minds

dont know the traditional original song, but this is a masterpiece!

Cover art for Belfast Child lyrics by Simple Minds

the song is she moved through the fair

Cover art for Belfast Child lyrics by Simple Minds

Best simple minds song, no doubt about it

Cover art for Belfast Child lyrics by Simple Minds

Murdering innocents in the name of religion. That's why Billy and Mary cleared off. Unless they can't go back because they were murdered too. Snatched in front of their kids, bundled into a van and never seen again. Or maybe they just moved and got blown up in the middle of Warrington by those brave republican soldiers.

Cover art for Belfast Child lyrics by Simple Minds

The famine is over. Why don't you go home?