A novel in five stanzas about Northern Ireland and fate...
Committed and passionate singer songwriter of new songs from traditional inspiration
Berni is a singer songwriter of passionate and committed songs.
Story behind the song
Story Behind the Song?
For a full line by line explanation.. visit: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/1985/music/darkangelofdeath-commentary.html
Lyrics
The Dark Angel of Death
They crowded round "The Sun" open at page three,
The bunch of adolescent lads who formed "B" company,
The front page told of threats issued by the I.R.A.
But they'd turned straight to the dolly bird, as they did every day.
"Christ what a pair of show stoppers. She sure puts lead in my gun"
Said one keeper of the peace - some English mother's son.
The rain fell slow and steady as it threatened to all day,
As Jim went down the post-office for his fortnightly pay.
Weren't no jobs for Protestants, so what chance a job for him.
He remarked to the six-footer, who stood smiling next to Jim.
"The Brits don't give a fig for us," the stranger he replied.
"But there's men of courage in this town whose comrades for us died."
"Sandra get your skates on, or you'll be late for work again."
"Who's in the bog?" asked Sandy. "It's me!" says brother Jim.
Make-up's gotta wait- she thought. Don't need it till tonight.
"Good enough for work" she said. - Off went her bedroom light.
"Dad, you gonna eat that bacon? I don't mean to be rude,
But you should read the paper later, it puts you off your food."
Jim at breakfast argued, as he seemed to more each day,
The only way for Catholics, was Sinn Fein and the I.R.A.
"Shut your mouth!" cried Sandy. "No talk of violence here!"
"Why can't we live in peace?" she asked. "Why must we live in fear?"
Jim boasted he would get a gun with which to make a stand.
While mother in the kitchen said a prayer for Ireland.
"B" company out on duty, turned fast into the square.
A house had been surrounded. "There's a gunman loose in there."
Who fired the first shots was later in dispute.
But Sandy was their victim, that no one could refute.
"Will you please put down the rifle son." His father's face was grim.
"Dad get down, she's beyond help" in commanding voice cried Jim.
He fired off a clip before they burst through the back door -
A single shot - Jim joined his mother praying on the floor.
The road went strangely silent, the crowd stood still and watched,
Jim's corpse get carried out, someone noting "He's no socks."
The page three blonde whose name the soldier spoke with his last breath,
Would never know that day she'd played the dark angel of death.
