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Ten Young Women And One Young Man

from White Wind, Black Tide by Ewan MacColl & Peggy Seeger

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Written by Ewan MacColl

lyrics

Now pause awhile, my friends, and listen to what I’m going to tell to you
About the events in Dublin City and the girls of the I.D.A.T.U.
Dunnes Store, the branch in Henry Street, is where the trouble all began
That led to the strike, the famous strike, of ten young women and one young man.

That year at the union conference they said we should not compromise
With apartheid and they voted to boycott all South African merchandise;
When Karen Gearon, the Dunnes shop-steward, told her mates about the ban,
They said, ‘We’ll stand by the resolution.’ Ten young women and one young man.

Now Mary Manning of Kilmainham, a twenty-one-year-old cashier,
Was put to the test the very next morning when she spoke up loud and clear:
‘No, I’m afraid I cannot serve you, that grapefruit’s South African!
And some of us here are opposed to apartheid.’ Ten young women and one young man.

Well, what a hell of a hullabaloo, the threats and groans and the angry cries,
The management foaming at the mouth and the suits buzzing round like blue-arse flies;
‘You’ll sell those goods or be suspended, we’ll tolerate no union ban!’
Little did they understand the will of ten young women and one young man

So Mary Manning got the push, this lass of independent mind,
And ten of her workmates came out and joined her there on the picket line.
For days and weeks and months they stood there, persevered and stood their ground, Proclaiming the will and determination of ten young women and one young man.

Then here’s to the girls of Dublin City who stretched their hands across the sea,
Their action surely is a lesson in workers’ solidarity.
And here’s to the folk who heeded the boycott, who won’t buy Cape and spurn Outspan,
And also the lad who joined the lasses - ten young women and one young man.

credits

from White Wind, Black Tide, released April 12, 1986
Ewan MacColl - vocals
Peggy Seeger - banjo

Produced by Calum MacColl
Engineered by Harun Coombes
Recorded at Falconer Studios, London

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Ewan MacColl London, UK

This site is maintained by the MacColl family, aiming to make Ewan's catalogue available to download.
Ewan MacColl is known to most as a songwriter and singer, but he was also of significant influence in the worlds of theatre and radio broadcasting. His art reached huge numbers through the folk clubs, greater numbers through his recordings and untold millions through the radio. ... more

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