ABSTRACT

During the Northern Ireland conflict (1968–1998), paramilitary groups were supported and sustained by a sociocultural apparatus that helped legitimise their position within the community and disseminate their political message. From the use of flags and murals, to loyalist and republican parades, working-class vernacular culture revealed who was in control of various districts within the Province. For many working-class Protestants, loyalist songs were a key component of this culture, connecting the past and the present. Unlike the better-known marching band scene, which is a huge public spectacle, the loyalist song scene is much more private. Performed in a closed setting, within local bars and clubs, loyalist songs are reproduced for internal consumption rather than outward expression. Yet, in addition to celebrating a particular loyalist culture, such songs also serve an important function in authenticating and legitimising paramilitary groups, connecting them to older organisations, whose legacy they draw upon. This paper focuses on one such song, exploring how ‘The Ballad of Billy McFadzean’ is used to connect the Ulster Volunteer Force of the 1960s onwards, with the 1913 organisation of the same name. In so doing, the paper attempts to illustrate the political utility of song and how songs can be used to launder and legitimise conflict, as well as those engaged in political violence.

摘要

在北爱尔兰冲突（1968-1998 年）期间，准军事团体得到了社会文化机构的支持和支持，该机构帮助他们在社区中的地位合法化并传播了他们的政治信息。从旗帜和壁画的使用，到保皇派和共和派的游行，工人阶级的乡土文化揭示了谁控制着该省的各个地区。对于许多工人阶级的新教徒来说，忠诚的歌曲是这种文化的重要组成部分，连接了过去和现在。与著名的游行乐队场景不同，这是一个巨大的公共景观，忠诚者的歌曲场景更加私密。在封闭的环境中，在当地的酒吧和俱乐部内表演，忠诚的歌曲被复制以供内部消费而不是外在表达。然而，除了颂扬特定的忠诚文化之外，这些歌曲还在准军事团体的认证和合法化方面发挥着重要作用，将它们与旧组织联系起来，并借鉴其遗产。本文重点介绍一首这样的歌曲，探讨如何使用“比利麦克法赞之歌”将 1960 年代以后的阿尔斯特志愿军与 1913 年的同名组织联系起来。在此过程中，本文试图说明歌曲的政治效用，以及歌曲如何被用来清洗和合法化冲突，以及那些参与政治暴力的人。探索如何使用“比利麦克法泽恩之歌”将 1960 年代以后的阿尔斯特志愿军与 1913 年的同名组织联系起来。在此过程中，本文试图说明歌曲的政治效用，以及歌曲如何被用来清洗和合法化冲突，以及那些参与政治暴力的人。探索如何使用“比利麦克法泽恩之歌”将 1960 年代以后的阿尔斯特志愿军与 1913 年的同名组织联系起来。在此过程中，本文试图说明歌曲的政治效用，以及歌曲如何被用来清洗和合法化冲突，以及那些参与政治暴力的人。