Butcher’s Apron The Wolfe Tones

"Butcher’s Apron" by The Wolfe Tones, released in 1972, is a #Folk song that addresses themes of Irish nationalism, resistance, and the historical struggles of the Irish people. The lyrics evoke strong imagery of conflict and sacrifice, using the metaphor of a butcher's apron to symbolize bloodshed. The song features traditional Irish instruments, enhancing its cultural resonance and reflecting the band's commitment to Irish heritage. Its impact lies in its role in the Irish folk revival and its connection to political sentiments in Ireland.

[Chorus]
Where is the flag of England?
Go north, south, east or west
Wherever's there's wealth to plunder
Or land to be possessed!
Wherever there's feeble races
To frighten, coerce or scare
Oh, you'll find a butcher's apron
The English flag is there

It waves above blazing hovels
Where Africans victims died
To be shot by explosive bullets
Or wretchedly starve and fly
And where the pirate harries
In the isles of southern seas
At the peak of the hellish vessel
The English flag is free

The Maori often cursed it
With his bitterest dying breath
And the Arab has hissed his hatred
As he spat in its fold in death
And the helpless Hindu feared it
And the Kenyan did the same
And the Irish blood has stained it
With a deep and indelible stain

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