PoemIt was Sammy McNally what did it He was never done swinging the lead And one sunn

It was Sammy McNally what did it
He was never done swinging the lead
And one sunny day as he swung it
He hit me a blow on the head. ‘Get up’, says he trying to lift me
I missed every word that he said
‘Are ye deaf?’ said he, trying to shift me
But I wasn’t deaf … I was dead!
Of course I went straight up to heaven
It’s three million miles past the Sun
I arrived at a quarter to seven
In the year three thousand and one.
I spied this big lad in the hallway
Says I, ‘I’m just in from Belfast!’
‘’S’that so?’ says he, ‘I’m from Galway
So they let an oul Prod in at last.’
I said I was happy to meet him
And I asked him what I should do
‘Come with me’, says he, ‘and I’ll show you
We have a special department for you.’
I followed him down a long passage
To a place where yer man wouldn’t tell
But, by gum, I soon got the message
When I saw a signpost to *.
Says I, ‘For *’s sake have pity’
Says he, ‘Blame yer sins of the past’
As he led me right into a city
A place the dead spit of… BELFAST!
‘Is that *,’ said I, quite astounded
‘It is so, indeed!’ said yer lad
‘Well, if that’s *,’ says I, looking round it
‘If that’s *, it can’t be that bad!’
The city was just as I’d known it
All the old friendly places were there
Street by street I went through it
To the centre at Donegall Square.
And there, * love it, before me
The grand City Hall stood in state
With a tricolour flying above it
And two Civic Guards at the gate.
It was only the start of my torment
I soon was to learn all the facts
The Pope was settled in Stormont
And Paisley was cleaning ‘the jacks’!
The head of the great Orange Order
Had long ago given himself up
Adams had abolished the border
..And Rangers was OUT OF THE CUP!
To the Shipyards I hurried like lightening
I knew I’d find Orangemen there
But what I found was real frightening
All talking Gaelic, they were!
The whole * city was stinking
There was nowhere a * could go
What desperate thoughts I was thinking
Then it came in a Flash!! … Sandy Row!
I knew they’d be loyal to Lizzie
And I wouldn’t be left in the lurch
But when I arrived all were busy
Building a Catholic Church!
I went back to the fella that brought me
He was having a snooze at the gate
I tried to get by, but he caught me
‘You can’t get away from your fate!’
Says I, ‘I don’t like where you sent me
If I’d known, I’d never have come.’
Says he, and him standing fornenst me
‘In here shure we all are the same.
In here, every freedom is given
To wander about at your will
It’s just that some think it’s heaven
While others think that it’s *.’
While on Earth I hated the Shinners
But if I was a mortal again
I’d be nice to the Fenians and Sinners
And I’d write to the Pope now and then.
Each man on this Earth is your brother
So don’t write those things on the wall
If only we’d love one another
We might find there’s no * at all!