"KICK
THE POPE" "KICK
THE POPE" HAPPY LITTLE SONGS FOR ORANGEMEN
I was able to find the following Celtic or Ulster song. It mentions "kick the Pope." I have included also "The Protestant Boys." I trust this helps stimulate interest in finding this song.
OLD ORANGE FLUTE
In the county Tyrone, in the town of Dungannon
Where many a ruckus meself had a hand in;
Bob Williamson lived there, a weaver by trade
And all of us thought him a stout-hearted blade.
On the twelfth of July as it yearly did come
Bob played on the flute to the sound of the drum;
You can talk of your fiddles, your harp or your lute
But there's nothing could sound like the Old Orange Flute.
But the treacherous scoundrel, he took us all in,
For he married a Papish named Bridget McGinn.
Turned Papish himself and forsook the Old Cause
That gave us our freedom, religion and laws.
And the boys in the county made such a stir on it
They forced Bob to flee to the province of Connaught;
Took with him his wife and his fixins, to boot,
And along with the rest went the Old Orange Flute.
Each Sunday at mass, to atone for past deeds,
Bob said Paters and Aves and counted his beads
Till one Sunday morn, at the priest's own require
Bob went for to play with the flutes in the choir.
He went for to play with the flutes in the mass
But the instrument quivered and cried."O Alas!"
And blow as he would, though he made a great noise,
The flute would play only "The Protestant Boys".
Bob jumped up and huffed, and was all in a flutter.
He pitched the old flute in the best holy water;
He thought that this charm would bring some other sound,
When he tried it again, it played "Croppies Lie Down!"
And for all he would finger and twiddle and blow
For to play Papish music, the flute would not go;
"Kick the Pope" to "Boyne Water" was all it would sound
Not one Papish bleat in it could e'er be found.
At a council of priests that was held the next day
They decided to banish the Old Flute away;
They couldn't knock heresy out of its head
So they bought Bob another to play in its stead.
And the Old Flute was doomed, and its fate was pathetic
'Twas fastened and burnt at the stake as heretic.
As the flames rose around it, you could hear a strange noise
'Twas the Old Flute still a-whistlin' "The Protestant Boys".
[ Note: the tune Protestant Boys is also known as Lilliburlero RG ]
The Protestant Boys
The Protestant Boys are loyal and true,
Stout hearted in battle and stout-handed too.
The Protestant Boys are true to the last
And faithful and peaceful when danger has passed.
And Oh! they bearAnd proudly wear
The colours that floated o'er many a fray
Where cannons were flashing
And sabres were clashing
The Protestant Boys still carried the day
_____________
When James half a bigot, and more of a knave
With masses and Frenchmen the land would enslave
The Protestant Boys for liberty drew
And showed with the Orange the banner of Blue
And Derry wellTheir might can tell
Who first in their ranks did the Orange display
The Boyne had no shyers
And Aughrim no flyers
And Protestant Boys still carried the day
_____________
When treason was rampant and traitors were strong
And law was defied by a vile rebel throng
When thoBlipnds were banded the throne to cast down
The Protestants rallied and stood by the Crown
And oft in fightBy day and night
They countered the rebels in many a fray
Where red pikes were bristling
And bullets were whistling
The Protestant Boys still carried the day
_____________
And still does the fame of their glory remain
Unclouded by age and undimmed by a stain
And ever and ever their cause well uphold
The cause of the true and the trusted and bold
And scorn to yield
Or quit the field
While ovber our heads the old colors shall play
And traitors shall tremble
When' er we assemble
For Protestant Boys shall carry the day
_____________
The Protestant Boys are loyal and true
Though fashions are changed and the loyal are few
The Protestant Boys are true to the last
Though copiano coversds belie them when danger has past
Aye still we standA loyal band
And reck not the liars whatever they say
For let the drums rattle
The summons to battle
The Protestant Boys must carry the day
spchk