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Johnson’s Motor Car by The Clancy Brothers has some of greatest lyrics ever written:

‘Twas down by Brannigan’s Corner, one morning I did stray
I met a fellow rebel, and to me he did say
“We’ve orders from the captain to assemble at Dunbar
But how are we to get there, without a motor car?”

“Oh, Barney dear, be of good cheer, I’ll tell you what we’ll do
The specials they are plentiful, the I.R.A. are few
We’ll send a wire to Johnson to meet us at Stranlar
And we’ll give the boys a bloody good ride in Johnson’s Motor Car

When doctor Johnson heard the news he soon put on his shoes
He says this is an urgent case, there is no time to lose
He then put on his castor hat and on his breast a star
You could hear the din all through Glenfin of Johnson’s Motor Car

But when he got to the railway bridge, some rebels he saw there
Old Johnson knew the game was up, for at him they did stare
He said “I have a permit, to travel near and far”
“To hell with your English permit, we want your motor car”

“What will my local brethren think, when they hear the news
My car it has been commandeered, by the rebels at Dunluce”
“We’ll give you a receipt for it, all signed by Captain Barr
And when Ireland gets her freedom, boy, you’ll get your motor car”

Well we put that car in motion and filled it to the brim
With guns and bayonets shining which made old Johnson grim
And Barney hoisted a Sínn Fein flag, and it fluttered like a star
And we gave three cheers for the I.R.A. and Johnson’s Motor Car

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