The Broad Black Brimmer

"The Broad Black Brimmer" is an Irish Republican folk song written by Noel Nagle of the Wolfe Tones.

The song narrates the story of a boy whose father died before he was born, fighting in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The narrator is asked by his mother to try on his father's old uniform and as he does so, she tells his father's story. The title refers to the wide brimmed hat worn by many IRA guerrillas in the 1920s Irish War of Independence and Irish Civil War. Also referenced are a Sam Browne belt, britches, a trench coat and a holster – items of equipment commonly associated with the IRA of that era.

The theme of the song is Republican "unfinished business" from the 1920s – the cause of the dead father is passed on to his son. This is specifically related to the Irish Civil War of 1922 and to the subsequent IRA, which refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of either the Irish Free State or Northern Ireland states created at that time. Shortly after the narrator's father marries his mother comes the "truce and Treaty and the parting of the ways" (split in the IRA). The father is killed fighting on the anti-treaty side. Each chorus emphasises that although his holster has been, "empty for many a year"... "when men claim Ireland's freedom, the ones they'll choose to lead 'em will wear the broad black brimmer of the IRA". Moreover, at the line about holster being empty, the line "but not for long" is added in the original version, but many covers (e.g. by Brier) omit this line.

Because it specifically takes the Republican view of the Civil War and looks forward to a resumption of armed actions and to an Ireland led by the IRA, the song is associated with physical force Irish republicanism. It is often sung at Republican gatherings.

Another notable aspect of the song is its reference to Christianity. When the narrator's parents are married it is in the "little church below" and "Father Mac he blessed the pair as one". The explicit reference to religion is relatively rare in republican songs.

External links

Lyrics at celtic-lyrics.com

Irish rebel songs

Gaelic Ireland	Óró sé do bheatha abhaile Follow Me up to Carlow O'Donnell Abú Mná na hÉireann

United Irishmen	The Wind that Shakes the Barley The Rising of the Moon Kelly from Killanne Boolavogue Highland Paddy The Wearing of the Green The Croppy Boy The Boys of Wexford Come All You Warriors Tone's Grave

Famine & Young Ireland	The Fields of Athenry Skibbereen Back Home in Derry God Save Ireland A Nation Once Again Join the British Army The Peeler and the Goat The Black Velvet Band

1916 & Tan War	Amhrán na bhFiann Come Out, Ye Black and Tans The Foggy Dew Down by the Glenside (The Bold Fenian Men) The Boys of the Old Brigade The Valley of Knockanure Tri-Colored Ribbon The Broad Black Brimmer Old Fenian Gun Rifles of the IRA Who Is Ireland's Enemy? Man from the Daily Mail Grand Old Dame Britannia Erin Go Bragh Kevin Barry Johnston's Motor Car Pat of Mullingar Banna Strand Dying Rebel

Civil War & Anti-Treaty	Take It Down from the Mast The Patriot Game Sean South from Garryowen

The Troubles	The Men Behind the Wire The Ballad of Joe McDonnell The People's Own MP Little Armalite Roll of Honour

Writers	Patrick Joseph McCall Timothy Daniel Sullivan Peadar Kearney Patrick Pearse Seán O'Casey Brian O'Higgins Bryan MacMahon Paddy McGuigan Dominic Behan Pete St. John Derek Warfield

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