1999

Written after Tommy Sands made a visit to the UDA and Sinn Fein in 1989. At the time he wrote: “During the course of the same week recently, I found myself in the headquarters of representatives of the two opposing lines in the Northern troubles. But when I looked out of the window of each place I saw the same picture. The houses were the same, the people wore the same and the problems were the same. At that moment I knew that eventually both sides would sit down and find a solution. The song asks the question ... When?” (Notes Tommy Sands, ‘Beyond the Shadows’)

Links between opposing political factions were common during the peace process. Many interlocutors facilitated secret talks between paramilitaries, before public multi-party talks commenced in the 1990s.

Copyright courtesy of Tommy Sands (Elm Grove Music)

Lyrics:
Oh IRA and UVF this song is just for you
As you sit down at the table now to see what you can do
At last you’ve come together after all the tears and time
It’s sad you didn’t do it back in 1969
History calls you savages but I know that isn’t true
For we grew up together and I am part of you
We all had dreams and hopes and fears and someone else to blame
It took so long to realise our dreams were all the same

You know our dreams were all the same
But who would dare proclaim In the anger and the pain
Our dreams were all the same
We felt the taste of hunger when the factory went away
And then they closed the hospital they said it didn’t pay
And as the rich got richer and they promised us the sky
All we got were promises and coloured flags to fly
I remember well your little girl she had ribbons in her hair
When she came to play that summer’s day with the children in the square
To think they could be here today still laughing and alive
If strong men had been wise men in 1979 You know our dreams were all the same

But who would dare proclaim In the anger and the pain
Our dreams were all the same
It was always all or nothing there was nothing in between
Compromise was treachery that’s the way it seemed
Well now we’re left with nothing but a future we must find
And count the cost of the chances lost in 1989
Oh IRA and UVF this song is just for you
As you sit down at the table now to see what you can do
At last you’ve come together after all the tears and time It’s sad you didn’t do it back in 1999
You know our dreams were all the same
But who would dare proclaim In the anger and the pain
Our dreams were all the same