I had forgotten how he was on this as well, not just Henry McCullough (who had joined at the recommendation of Denny Laine and actually came from Northern Ireland, albeit with Protestant roots):
It's a song that appears to have been written out of Macca's history a bit, it was never on a regular Wings studio album in the vinyl era nor does it crop up on any Wings CD compilations, which is weird since it didn't do so badly given how it was mostly banned from airplay at the time:
"Give Ireland Back to the Irish" peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. According to author Bruce Spizer, listeners there felt alienated by McCartney's political stance and "Airplay was so marginal that the song, for all practical purposes, was also banned by American radio." On the other US singles charts, published by Cash Box and Record World, the single peaked at number 38 and number 36, respectively.
The single reached number 1 in Ireland and in Spain. McCartney attributed the song's success in Spain to its popularity among Basque nationalists. I remember my elder brother coming home with the single and being appreciative that Paul had finally found a political voice (he was more a Lennon guy).
Here's a (rather ramshackle) live rendition of it documenting two things: (i) Paul could sing really badly out of tune - hard to believe, yes, I know. (ii) Linda, the ever-loving and supportive wife, could save his ass in the chorus by being in key! (Just imagine how it would have sounded had Yoko joined in ... that would have most likely prompted an immediate return of Northern Ireland to the Republic by the British Crown just for her to stop!
)
Personally, I don't think it was a bad tune, the verse and bridge nicely Beatlish, the chorus Ringo-worthy in its simplicity, but it was obviously written with protest march chants in mind.
Nor do I think the lyrics were as awful as some people said they were:
Give Ireland back to the Irish
Don't make them have to take it away
Give Ireland back to the Irish
Make Ireland Irish today
Great Britain you are tremendous
And nobody knows like me
But really, what are you doing
In the land across the sea?
Tell me, how would you like it
If on your way to work
You were stopped by Irish soldiers?
Would you lie down, do nothing?
Would you give in, or go berserk?
Give Ireland back to the Irish
Don't make them have to take it away
Give Ireland back to the Irish
Make Ireland Irish today
Great Britain and all the people
Say that people must be free
And meanwhile, back in Ireland
There's a man who looks like me
And he dreams of God and country
And he's feeling really bad
And he's sitting in a prison
Say, should he lie down, do nothing?
Should he give in or go mad?
Give Ireland back to the Irish
Don't make them have to take it away
Give Ireland back to the Irish
Make Ireland Irish today
Give Ireland back to the Irish
Don't make them have to take it away
Give Ireland back to the Irish
Make Ireland Irish today
