This page shares songs celebrating the UN Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The treaty enters into force on the 22nd January, 2021 after it reached its fiftieth ratification in October, 2020. Join the campaign to convince the UK government to accede to the treaty. Find out more here: http://www.icanw.org
ICAN Ban That Bomb!
How did we feel when we heard the news? This video shows you how we felt! Do sing and dance along 🙂
ICAN Can-Can
[the words to this anti-nuclear Can-Can were written by Jane Lewis. You can connect with more of her music here: http://www.craftycarrot.co.uk]
Ring the Bells!
Many church bells will be ringing throughout the UK to celebrate the treaty at midday on January 22nd, 2021, alongside hundreds of activists ringing bells on their doorsteps. Please do join us!
Carry Greenham Home
Our work today as peace activists stands on the shoulders of our foremothers. Here, Peggy Seeger plays tribute to the women of Greenham Common to celebrate the Nuclear Ban Treaty. “Step by Step the longest march can be won…”
[connect with more of Peggy’s music at www.peggyseeger.com]
Leag Iad am Bom an Raoir
This song was the first anti-nuclear song written in Gaelic. It was written by Murchadh MacPhà rlain (Murdo Macfarlane) of Lewis, and is an imagined lullaby sung by a mother to a baby in the year 2050. Margaret Bennett sings to celebrate the ban, and also to remind us just how important it is that we disarm.
The Freedom Come All Ye
Hamish Henderson wrote the Freedom Come All Ye when the first nuclear submarines came up the Clyde in 1961. It is an expansive anthem for peace and international solidarity that acknowledges our own part in the military industrial complex and colonisation of other lands, and seeks to build a different, internationalist Scotland. A Scotland without nuclear weapons. A peaceful Scotland.
Here are some singers sharing their versions of The Freedom Come All Ye to celebrate the Nuclear Ban Treaty. If you want to add your version, just film yourself singing or send an audio track to me and I’ll add your voice. My email address is singlouderthanguns@gmail.com.
Members of Ayr Phoenix Folk Club sing The Freedom Come All Ye:
[connect with Ayr Phoenix Folk Club here: http://ayrphoenix.co.uk%5D
Margaret Bennett sings the Freedom Come All Ye: (this is an archive recording shared by Margaret for this celebration. It was recorded in the Scottish Parliament in 2007)
[connect with more of Margaret’s music here: http://www.margaretbennett.co.uk]
Mairi Campbell sings the Freedom Come All Ye:
[you can connect with more of Mairi’s music here: https://mairicampbell.scot/%5D
Graham Carter sings the Freedom Come All Ye:
[you can connect with more of Graham’s music here: http://www.facebook.com/folkperformer%5D
Kim Edgar sings the Freedom Come All Ye:
[connect with more of Kim’s music at http://www.kimedgar.com]
Margaret Ferguson Burns sings The Freedom Come All Ye:
Sylvia McGowan sings the Freedom Come All Ye:
Scott Murray sings the Freedom Come All Ye:
[connect with more of Scott’s music here: http://www.scottmurraysongs.co.uk]
Eileen Penman sings The Freedom Come All Ye:
Karine Polwart sings The Freedom Come All Ye:
Fiona Ross sings the Freedom Come All Ye:
[Connect with more of Fiona’s music here: https://fionaross.com.au/%5D
Janet Russell sings the Freedom Come All Ye:
[connect with more of Janet’s music here: http://79.170.44.206/harbourtownrecords.com/janet-russell-harbourtown/%5D
Robyn Stapleton sings The Freedom Come All Ye:
[connect with more of Robyn’s music here: http://www.robynstapleton.com]
Learn and Sing Resources:
You can learn the Freedom Come All Ye along with Kim Edgar starting here (starts at 6:18):
And continuing here. (the second learning part begins at 10:38):
[connect with more of Kim’s music at http://www.kimedgar.com]
There is a slow sing along version here:
Resources to help you learn the song can be found here: https://www.protestinharmony.org.uk/songs/freedom-come-all-ye/
And more versions of the Freedom Come All Ye can be heard here. https://singlouderthanguns.com/freedom-come-all-ye/
Better Things
Karine Polwart’s beautiful song about what we could do with our hands, hearts and minds instead of spending them working with nuclear weapons.
[connect with more of Karine’s music at www.karinepolwart.com]
Nuclear Ban Burns Night, Jan 22nd 2021: Here is the new SONGSHEET for anyone who wants to print it off. (for anyone from Campaign Choirs Network coming along to the PIH open session on Jan 22nd). If you would find these lyrics easier in a different format – plain text or large print – please drop me an email at singlouderthanguns@gmail.com and I’ll sort that out for you.
Penny Stone 