| "The Men Behind the Wire" | |
|---|---|
| Single byThe Barleycorn | |
| from the album Live at the Embankment | |
| A-side | "The Men Behind the Wire" |
| Released | December 1971 |
| Recorded | 1971 |
| Genre | Protest,republican |
| Label | Release Records |
| Songwriter | Paddy McGuigan |
| Producer | Billy McBurney |
"The Men Behind the Wire" is a song written and composed byPaddy McGuigan of theBarleycorn folk group in the aftermath ofOperation Demetrius. The song describespolice raids in Northern Ireland by British security forces duringthe Troubles, and the "men behind the wire" refers to thoseinterned without trial atHM Prison Maze,HM Prison Magilligan and onboardHMSMaidstone.[1][2][3]
The song was recorded by the Barleycorn inBelfast (produced by Billy McBurney) and pressed inDublin by Release Records in December 1971.[4] After its release on 14 December the song shot into the Irish charts, selling far more copies than any other single until then released in Ireland, and remained in the charts for months.[5] It reachedNo. 1 position in the Irish charts on 22 January 1972, where it remained for three weeks. After a gap of one week it returned to No. 1 for two weeks on 15 February. Royalties from the recording were donated to families of the internees.[6]
The song was subsequently recorded by many singers and bands in Ireland and abroad, including theWolfe Tones,Liam Clancy and theFlying Column. British singer/songwriterDido in her song "Let's Do the Things We Normally Do" from the albumSafe Trip Home used a few lines from this song. This included the lyrics "Armoured cars and tanks and guns, came to take away our sons. But every man must stand behind, the men behind the wire."[7]
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