The song remembers the massacre that took place inn Carlow town in 1798. It uses the melody of the Caramagnole, from the time of the French Revolution, and event that inspired the struggle for Republicanism in Ireland.
The roll is called, Big Jim is gone, his voice we’ll hear no more,
But his name is etched forever on the pages of folklore.
For those who knew this gentle giant, he was an easy friend to love
And on Good Friday evening Jim was called to Heaven…
Twas a Saturday in October in 1983
Just another Saturday or so it seemed to be;
But that day has made history which was very sad:
It was the day that Mickey Rice blew in the plastic bag.
It was down in Ballinabranna that we all worked hard all…