Brendan Behan: Joe Brady (The Fenian Blade) (1951)

On an unknown date in 1951, Irish playwright, essayist, and raconteur Brendan Behan sat down with Alan Lomax for an informal recording session, presumably at Radio Eireann in Dublin, where he sang bawdy material and Republican and Fenian songs, including the ballad of Joe Brady, alternately known as “The Fenian Blade,” presented in its entirety here (although the very last phrase somehow wasn’t recorded). Visit the Lomax Digital Archive (archive.culturalequity.org) to hear all the recordings from the session. Photo of Behan outside the High Court, Dublin, from the Irish Photo Archive.
On the evening of May 6, 1882, Lord Frederick Cavendish, recently appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland and just off the boat from England, was walking through Dublin’s Phoenix Park with the Irish Office’s Permanent Under Secretary Thomas Henry Burke when they were attacked and stabbed to death with surgical knives. The killers belonged to an underground militant organization known as the Irish National Invincibles (or simply the Invincibles), and they were ultimately identified to the police by the group’s leader, James Carey. Joe Brady was hanged at Kilmainham Gaol in Kilmainham, Dublin, on May 14, 1883, for the murder of Cavendish.
I am a bold undaunted youth, Joe Brady is my name,
From the chapel of North Anne Street one Sunday as I came,
All to my surprise who should I espy but Moreno and Cockade;
Says one unto the other: "Here comes our Fenian blade.”
I did not know the reason why they ordered me to stand,
I did not know the reason why they gave me such a command.
But when I saw James Carey there, I knew I was betrayed.
I'll face death before dishonour and die a Fenian blade.
They marched me up North Anne Street without the least delay,
The people passed me on the path, it filled them with dismay.
My sister cried, “I’ll see you, Joe, if old Mallon gives me lave,
Keep up your heart for Ireland like a true-born Fenian Blade.”
It happened in the Phoenix Park all in the month of May,
Lord Cavendish and Burke came out for to see the polo play.
James Carey gave the signal and his handkerchief he waved,
Then he gave full information against our Fenian blades.
It was in Kilmainham Prison the Invincibles were hung.
Mrs Kelly she stood there all in mourning for her son.
She threw back her shawl and said to all: "Though he fills a lime-pit grave,
My son was no informer, boys [and he died a Fenian blade]“

[@michaelteret4763]

Behan was a great man, I think Borstal Boy is essential reading.

[@superdeluxesmell]

Hasn’t got a note in his head though.😂

[@vincentsubmarinismo774]

Great book, and illustrates well what a humanist Brendan was.

[@SlickArmor]

My name is slim Joe Brady

[@slugwrench]

Ballad of Joe Brady:
I am a bold undaunted youth, Joe Brady is my name,
From the chapel of North Anne Street one Sunday as I came,
All to my surprise who should I espy but Moreno and Cockade;
Says one unto the other: “Here comes our Fenian blade”.
I did not know the reason why they ordered me to stand,
I did not know the reason why they gave me such a command.
But when I saw James Carey there, I knew I was betrayed.
I’ll face death before dishonour and die a Fenian blade.
They marched me up North Anne Street without the least delay,
The people passed me on the path, it filled them with dismay.
My sister cried, “I see you Joe, if old Mallon gives me lave,
Keep up your heart for Ireland like a true-born Fenian Blade.
It happened in the Phoenix Park all in the month of May,
Lord Cavendish and Burke came out for to see the polo play.
James Carey gave the signal and his handkerchief he waved,
Then he gave full information against our Fenian blades.
It was in Kilmainham Prison the Invincibles were hung.
Mrs Kelly she stood there all in mourning for her son.
She threw back her shawl and said to all:
“Though he fills a lime-pit grave,
My son was no informer and he died a Fenian blade.”

[@chlcdny]

¤▪︎very stark, no frills...but a full story was talked~ sung here. ▪︎¤ was joe brady guilty; or was he duped?▪︎¤ a cold hardness in the verses...however; his fate was kind of expected...as sumone had to pay for the crimes!¤▪︎saad○°