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S.A.M Song | Eire Og Lyrics, Meaning & Videos

S.A.M Song
Eire Og Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴Well, I have been a Provo now for fifteen years or more
Of armalites And mortar bombs I thought I knew the score
Now we have a weapon We′ve never used before
The Brits are looking worried,
And they're going to worry more
Tiocfaidh ár lá,
Sing up the ′ RA
Ooh, ah, up the ' RA! Ooh ah up the ' RA!
SAM missiles in the sky...
Well I started out with petrol bombs and throwing bricks and stones
There were a hundred more lads like me I never was alone
Soon I Learned that bricks and stones won′t drive the Brits away
It wasn′t Very long before (who did I join?)
I joined the IRA
Tiocfaidh ár lá, sing up the ' RA
Ooh, ah, up the ′ RA!
Ooh ah up the ' RA!)
SAM missiles in the sky...
Then there came internment in the year of ′71
The Brits thought we Were beaten that we were on the run
On that early august morning they Kicked in our back door
But for every man they took away
How many Did they miss?
They missed a hundred more
Tiocfaidh ár lá, sing up the ' RA
Ooh, ah, up the ′ RA!
Ooh ah up the ' RA!
SAM missiles in the sky...
I spent eight years in the cages had time to think and plan
Although They locked away a boy I walked out a man
There's only one thing that I learned while in a cell I lay
The Brits will never leave us
Until when?
Until they′re blown away
Tiocfaidh ár lá,
Sing up the ′ RA
Ooh, ah, up the ' RA!
Ooh ah up the ′ RA!
SAM missiles in the sky...
All through the days of hunger strike I watched my comrades die
And In the streets of Belfast you could hear the women cry
I can't forget The massacre that Friday at Loughgall
I salute my fallen Comrades
As, I watch the choppers fall
Tiocfaidh ár lá, sing up the ′ RA
Ooh, ah, up the ' RA!

Ooh ah up the ′ RA!
SAM missiles in the sky...


Overall Meaning

Eire Og's song "S.A.M Song" tells the story of a Provo (IRA member) who has been involved in the fight against the British for over 15 years. The song starts with the singer talking about how he thought he knew everything there was to know about weaponry until they acquired a new weapon- a surface-to-air missile (SAM). The Brits are worried about this new development, and the singer sings proudly about the power of the IRA and incites others to join in the fight for a united Ireland.


The song then goes back in time to when the singer was just starting out in the fight. He talks about how he realized that throwing bricks and stones wouldn't be enough to drive the Brits away, and so he joined the IRA. The song goes on to describe the years of internment and imprisonment the singer endured and how it only made him stronger in his resolve to fight for Irish independence. The song ends with the singer reminiscing about fallen comrades and the continued struggle for freedom, with the repeated chant of "Tiocfaidh ár lá" ("Our day will come") and "Ooh, ah, up the 'RA!"


Line by Line Meaning

Well, I have been a Provo now for fifteen years or more
I have been a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) for over fifteen years.


Of armalites And mortar bombs I thought I knew the score
I thought I had a good understanding of using firearms and homemade bombs.


Now we have a weapon We′ve never used before
We have acquired a new weapon that we have not yet deployed.


The Brits are looking worried,
The British government is feeling apprehensive about our new weapon.


And they're going to worry more
Their level of concern is likely to increase.


Tiocfaidh ár lá,
Our day will come,


Sing up the ′ RA
Let's sing in support of the IRA.


Ooh, ah, up the ' RA!
Cheering for the IRA.


Ooh ah up the ' RA!
Cheering for the IRA.


SAM missiles in the sky...
Our new weapon, the Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM), is now available to use.


Well I started out with petrol bombs and throwing bricks and stones
I initially used Molotov cocktails and projectiles made of bricks and stones.


There were a hundred more lads like me I never was alone
I had a lot of comrades who were also using similar methods.


Soon I Learned that bricks and stones won′t drive the Brits away
I realized that our methods were not effective in driving the British out of Northern Ireland.


It wasn′t Very long before (who did I join?)
Shortly thereafter, I joined the IRA.


I joined the IRA
I became a member of the IRA.


Then there came internment in the year of ′71
In 1971, the British government began arresting and imprisoning suspected IRA members without trial.


The Brits thought we Were beaten that we were on the run
The British government believed that they had succeeded in breaking up the IRA.


On that early august morning they Kicked in our back door
On an August morning, the British military raided my house.


But for every man they took away
For every man they arrested,


How many Did they miss?
How many others did they not catch?


They missed a hundred more
There were many more IRA members who were not captured.


Tiocfaidh ár lá, sing up the ' RA
Our day will come, let's sing in support of the IRA.


Then there came internment in the year of ′71
In 1971, the British government began arresting and imprisoning suspected IRA members without trial.


On that early august morning they Kicked in our back door
On an August morning, the British military raided my house.


But for every man they took away
For every man they arrested,


How many Did they miss?
How many others did they not catch?


They missed a hundred more
There were many more IRA members who were not captured.


Tiocfaidh ár lá, sing up the ' RA
Our day will come, let's sing in support of the IRA.


I spent eight years in the cages had time to think and plan
I was imprisoned for eight years and had ample time to reflect and strategize.


Although They locked away a boy I walked out a man
Despite being incarcerated as a young man, I emerged as a mature adult.


There's only one thing that I learned while in a cell I lay
The only lesson I learned during my time in prison is that the British government will not leave Northern Ireland.


The Brits will never leave us
The British government's presence in Northern Ireland is persistent.


Until when?
Until what point in time?


Until they′re blown away
Until they are physically removed by force.


Tiocfaidh ár lá,
Our day will come


Sing up the ′ RA
Let's sing in support of the IRA.


Ooh, ah, up the ' RA!
Cheering for the IRA.


Ooh ah up the ′ RA!
Cheering for the IRA.


SAM missiles in the sky...
Our new weapon, the Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM), is now available to use.


All through the days of hunger strike I watched my comrades die
During the hunger strikes held by IRA prisoners, I witnessed many of my fellow members perish.


And In the streets of Belfast you could hear the women cry
The sorrowful cries of women in Belfast were audible in the streets.


I can't forget The massacre that Friday at Loughgall
I will never forget the violent events of the Loughgall massacre.


I salute my fallen Comrades
I honor and respect my fellow IRA members who have died.


As, I watch the choppers fall
As I witness British helicopters being shot down by our missiles.


Tiocfaidh ár lá, sing up the ' RA
Our day will come, let's sing in support of the IRA.


Ooh, ah, up the ' RA!
Cheering for the IRA.


Ooh ah up the ′ RA!
Cheering for the IRA.


SAM missiles in the sky...
Our new weapon, the Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM), is now available to use.


Writer(s): Gerry O'glacain, Stan Jones

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Update: 2024-05-21