Miami

This was written in memory of the Miami Showband Massacre a paramilitary attack at Buskhill, County Down, Northern Ireland, in the early morning of 31 July 1975. It left five people dead at the hands of Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) gunmen, including three members of The Miami Showband. The band, one of Ireland’s most popular cabaret bands, had been travelling home to Dublin after a performance in Banbridge, County Down.

Copyright courtesy Jez Lowe / Lowelife Music

There are long and winding roads up and down these counties
When the dance hall closes and you packed away your old guitar
Well I bet we’ve driven down all of them
Cos I’m so proud of the name that has taken us all this far

We are the Miami, the Miami, in a place where the rain don’t fall
Now they’re weeping in the old dance hall
Weeping in the old dance hall

Now tell me where you go to forget these troubles and borders
Where the orange and the green are just colours on a sparklit stage
And there’s no ill divisions between this country’s sons and daughters
And the music glides across the rhythm of the golden age

Comin’ from the Miami, the Miami
The Miami, the Miami, when they’re weepin’ in the old dance hall
Weepin’ in the old dance hall

There’s Fran still singing like a dream
Across those dark Mourne Mountains
And Brian and Tony rock solid in the old front line
And the boys and girls around this country sighed
All singin’ and shoutin’
They’ll hear that showband music til the end of time

Comin’ from the Miami, the Miami in the place where the rain don’t fall
The Miami, the Miami, when they’re weepin’ in the old dance hall
Weepin’ in the old dance hall

They’re weepin’ for the Miami in the place where the rain don’t fall
The Miami, the Miami, when they’re weepin’ in the old dance hall
Weepin’ in the old dance hall