The following ballads have been composed in honour of two people arrested by police on September 6th 2007, after their homes were raided in the early morning by armed officers. These were two ordinary Cornish people whose only crime was to be involved in Cornish civil society by actively campaigning for the greater independence of Kernow.
In both cases the police confiscated Cornish flags, John Angarrack books, Cornish language tapes and other items of a Cornish nature. Both men are due to answer bail in March 2006 for the second time in six months.
To be a Brave Celt
By day and by night
We shall fight that good fight
Seizing back what is ours
And making it right
Its our history, our culture and our language too
For we are not English but Cornish right through!
They may take our books and flags away
Little they know, we're right here to stay
Black uniforms and guns in their raids by night
Their English law used to cause us much fright
Its our history, our culture and our language too
For we are not English but Cornish right through!
Many people have fought this battle for years
And they have endured both misery and tears
But we remain stubborn and at end of the day
Our deep held beliefs shall win us our way
Its our history, our culture and our language too
For we are not English but Cornish right through!
'For Tony'
By Mike Chappell
The Ballad of Hugh Rowe
Armed up police with dogs in tow
Came to take away Hugh Rowe
But everyone must stand behind
The men in the Stannary.
Through the little streets of Camborne
In the light of early morn
English police came marauding
Wrecking little homes with scorn.
Heedless of the crying children
Dragging tinners from their beds,
Cuffing Hugh while helpless neighbours
Watch the scene and shake their heads.
Not for him a judge and jury
Or indeed a crime at all
Being Cornish means he’s guilty
So we’re guilty one and all.
Round the world the cry will echo
Otter’s men are here again,
England’s name again is sullied
In the eyes of honest men.
Proudly march behind our banners,
Firmly stand behind our men.
We will have Hugh free to help us
Build a nation once again
Help the people stand together
Proudly, firmly on your way
Never fear and never falter
‘Til Hugh Rowe comes home to stay.
Adapted from an Irish song ‘The Men Behing the Wire’ by Victor Hendra, of Troon Camborne, Kernow. Published by The Western Morning News newspaper on Tuesday 23rd October 2007, in the “KERNEWEK – a living language” column.
Cornish Stannary Parliament
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