Famine song
Encyclopedia
The Famine Song is a derogatory song sung by Rangers
fans, mainly to insult Celtic
supporters. Set to the tune of Sloop John B
by The Beach Boys
, the song was first heard in 2008.
, which led the country's population to fall from approximately 8 million to 5 million as a result of starvation and emigration. Although the bulk of emigrants moved to North America, large numbers moved to Scotland and England, settling in London, Liverpool and Glasgow. Since then, Glasgow, in particular, has had problems with sectarianism
, with its two main football teams being the focal points of identity: Celtic for Catholics, Rangers for Protestants. The song replaces the original words of the chorus of "Sloop John B", "I feel so broke up / I wanna go home", with "The famine is over / Why don't you go home?".
Lex Gold
, the Scottish Premier League
(SPL) chief executive
, said that football clubs could be deducted points if fans continue to sing such songs:
John Reid
, Celtic's chairman, has tried to highlight the non-Catholic specific aspects of the famine: "Few of those who sing this song will have stopped to think that famine is nonsectarian and the millions of people who died or were forced into mass emigration - some to Scotland - were from all faiths and traditions within Ireland. Ireland's Consul General has approached the Scottish Government regarding the song. A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Scottish Government is totally committed to combating sectarianism and bigotry, which is why we have expanded on the work of the previous administration and are doing more. We are working with the clubs themselves, as they are part of the solution to the problem.
Kenny Scott, Rangers' Head of Security and Operations, said in October 2008 that conversations with the Strathclyde Police
made it clear to the club that there was the potential for supporters singing the song to be arrested. In November 2008, a Rangers fan was found guilty of a breach of the peace (aggravated by religious and racial prejudice) for singing the song during a game in Kilmarnock. At his appeal in June 2009, three Scottish judges ruled that the song is racist because it targets people of Irish
origin.
The Rangers fans' organisation, the Rangers Supporters' Trust, rejected claims that the song was racist, describing it as a "wind-up" albeit a "distasteful" one which is designed to mock not the famine itself, but Celtic fans' perceived affiliations with the Republic of Ireland
.
, Kilmarnock
[2009] HCJAC 59, the High Court of Justiciary
held on appeal, in an opinion delivered by Lord Carloway
, that:
The appellant, who was convicted for Breach of the Peace
racially aggravated and aggravated by religious prejudice having sung the Famine Song and made a number of other remarks during a football match, had his appeal denied and his conviction upheld.
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
fans, mainly to insult Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
supporters. Set to the tune of Sloop John B
Sloop John B
"Sloop John B" is the seventh track on The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds album and was also a single which was released in 1966 on Capitol Records. It was originally a traditional West Indies folk song, "The John B. Sails," taken from a collection by Carl Sandburg . Alan Lomax made a field recording of...
by The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, the song was first heard in 2008.
Controversy
The title of the song refers to the 1840s Great Famine of IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, which led the country's population to fall from approximately 8 million to 5 million as a result of starvation and emigration. Although the bulk of emigrants moved to North America, large numbers moved to Scotland and England, settling in London, Liverpool and Glasgow. Since then, Glasgow, in particular, has had problems with sectarianism
Sectarianism in Glasgow
Sectarianism in Glasgow takes the form of religious and political sectarian rivalry between Roman Catholics and Protestants. It is reinforced by the fierce rivalry between Celtic F.C. and Rangers F.C., the two Old Firm football clubs...
, with its two main football teams being the focal points of identity: Celtic for Catholics, Rangers for Protestants. The song replaces the original words of the chorus of "Sloop John B", "I feel so broke up / I wanna go home", with "The famine is over / Why don't you go home?".
Lex Gold
Lex Gold
Lex Gold, CBE is an administrator and former footballer who currently serves as a director of Caledonian MacBrayne.Gold played professional football as a teenager, including an 18 month spell with Rangers...
, the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
(SPL) chief executive
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
, said that football clubs could be deducted points if fans continue to sing such songs:
Clubs know they need to be alert and make sure their fans are doing all they can to avoid sectarian or other offensive abuse. The verse of the song that has featured hugely is racist, it's not sectarian as such, it's racist. The rules were structured to help to try to tackle this. You don't start with points deduction. We have a range of sanctions which can be applied.
John Reid
John Reid (politician)
John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan, PC is a British politician, who served as a Labour Party Member of Parliament and cabinet minister under Tony Blair, most notably as Defence Secretary and then Home Secretary...
, Celtic's chairman, has tried to highlight the non-Catholic specific aspects of the famine: "Few of those who sing this song will have stopped to think that famine is nonsectarian and the millions of people who died or were forced into mass emigration - some to Scotland - were from all faiths and traditions within Ireland. Ireland's Consul General has approached the Scottish Government regarding the song. A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Scottish Government is totally committed to combating sectarianism and bigotry, which is why we have expanded on the work of the previous administration and are doing more. We are working with the clubs themselves, as they are part of the solution to the problem.
Kenny Scott, Rangers' Head of Security and Operations, said in October 2008 that conversations with the Strathclyde Police
Strathclyde Police
Strathclyde Police is the territorial police force responsible for the Scottish council areas of Argyll and Bute, City of Glasgow, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and West...
made it clear to the club that there was the potential for supporters singing the song to be arrested. In November 2008, a Rangers fan was found guilty of a breach of the peace (aggravated by religious and racial prejudice) for singing the song during a game in Kilmarnock. At his appeal in June 2009, three Scottish judges ruled that the song is racist because it targets people of Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
origin.
The Rangers fans' organisation, the Rangers Supporters' Trust, rejected claims that the song was racist, describing it as a "wind-up" albeit a "distasteful" one which is designed to mock not the famine itself, but Celtic fans' perceived affiliations with the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
Legal issues
In the case of William Walls v. the Procurator FiscalProcurator Fiscal
A procurator fiscal is a public prosecutor in Scotland. They investigate all sudden and suspicious deaths in Scotland , conduct Fatal Accident Inquiries and handle criminal complaints against the police A procurator fiscal (pl. procurators fiscal) is a public prosecutor in Scotland. They...
, Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,734. It is the second largest town in Ayrshire. The River Irvine runs through its eastern section, and the Kilmarnock Water passes through it, giving rise to the name 'Bank Street'...
[2009] HCJAC 59, the High Court of Justiciary
High Court of Justiciary
The High Court of Justiciary is the supreme criminal court of Scotland.The High Court is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal. As a court of first instance, the High Court sits mainly in Parliament House, or in the former Sheriff Court building, in Edinburgh, but also sits from time...
held on appeal, in an opinion delivered by Lord Carloway
Colin Sutherland, Lord Carloway
Colin John MacLean Sutherland, Lord Carloway is a Senator of the College of Justice, a judge of the Supreme Courts of Scotland, sitting in the High Court of Justiciary and the Inner House of the Court of Session.-Early life:...
, that:
- "the song calls upon persons of Irish descent, who are living in Scotland, to go back to the land of their ancestors, namely Ireland [...] they are racist in calling upon people native to Scotland to leave the country because of their racial origins. This is a sentiment which, once more, many persons will find offensive."
The appellant, who was convicted for Breach of the Peace
Breach of the peace
Breach of the peace is a legal term used in constitutional law in English-speaking countries, and in a wider public order sense in Britain.-Constitutional law:...
racially aggravated and aggravated by religious prejudice having sung the Famine Song and made a number of other remarks during a football match, had his appeal denied and his conviction upheld.