The Broad Black Brimmer is an Irish Republican folk song that is steeped in history and emotion. The song was written by Art McMillen, and tells the story of a young boy whose father died before he was born while fighting in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The song is set in the 1920s during the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War, and through the lyrics, we see the narrator being asked by his mother to try on his father's old uniform. As he puts on his father's clothes, his mother tells him the story of his father's role in the IRA and how he died fighting for the Republican cause.
The title of the song, "The Broad Black Brimmer," refers to the wide-brimmed hat worn by many IRA guerrillas during this time period. The song also references other equipment commonly associated with the IRA of that era, such as a Sam Browne belt, britches, a trench coat, and a holster. The theme of the song is that of Republican "unfinished business" from the 1920s. The narrator's father fought and died for the cause of Irish independence, and that cause is passed on to his son.
The lyrics of the song also reference the Irish Civil War of 1922 and the subsequent IRA, which refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of either the Irish Free State or Northern Ireland, which were created at that time. The song specifically takes the Republican view of the Civil War and looks forward to a resumption of armed actions and to an Ireland led by the IRA. As a result, the song is often associated with physical force Irish republicanism and is often sung at Republican gatherings.
One interesting aspect of the song is its reference to Christianity. The lyrics mention the narrator's parents being married in a "little church below" and "Father Mac" blessing the couple as one. This explicit reference to religion is relatively rare in republican songs, making it a unique aspect of "The Broad Black Brimmer."
It's worth mentioning that, although performed by The Wolfe Tones in 1973, the song had been released the year before by Declan Hunt on the Outlet subsidiary label R & O (Release & Outlet). It was credited to Art McMillan, and even the Wolfe Tones did not claim to have written it.
In conclusion, "The Broad Black Brimmer" is a powerful and evocative Irish Republican folk song that tells the story of one family's sacrifices in the fight for Irish independence. It's theme is of Republican "unfinished business" and looks forward to a resumption of armed actions and to an Ireland led by the IRA. It's a song that is steeped in history and emotion and is sure to evoke a sense of pride and solidarity in all those who hear it.
9 янв 2023
