Ways to go
Paul Muldoon, Poet, produced this poem for the St Patrick's Day Gala Concert marking of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
1
WE’VE COME A WAYS ALREADY
WE’VE GOT A WAYS TO GO
TILL WE BASK IN THE GLORY
TILL WE BASK IN THE GLOW
THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT
OF 1998
WOULD MARK THAT NEW BEGINNING
WE’RE HERE TO CELEBRATE
WITH THAT NEW BEGINNING
CAME A SHIFT IN OUR MINDSET
THERE’S MUCH WE MUST REMEMBER
MUCH MORE WE MUST FORGET
MOST DAYS A WHITEWASHED SEPULCHRE
LOOKS PURE AS THE DRIVEN SNOW
WE’VE COME A WAYS ALREADY
WE’VE GOT A WAYS TO GO
WE’VE COME A WAYS ALREADY
WE’VE GOT A WAYS TO GO
THE GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT
WOULD MARK NOT OUR DEATH THROES
BUT THE END OF VIOLENCE
IT MARKED CALLING A HALT
TO OUR CONSTANT RECRIMINATIONS
AN END TO FINDING FAULT
A FAULTLINE IS A SUTURE
ALONG WHICH WE MAY HEAL
IT POINTS TO A FUTURE
IN WHICH WE’LL BREAK THE SEAL
WHEN ALL THE PALE OUTRIDERS
COME IN FROM THE COLD
AND THE DISSIDENT BELLWETHERS
ARE BROUGHT BACK TO THE FOLD
THE BOOK OF REVELATION
MUST BE READ BETWEEN THE LINES
THAT CLOUD ON THE HORIZON
MAY WELL BE CLOUD NINE
OUR TIMES MAY AGAIN BE HEADY
THOUGH OUR SPIRITS ARE OFTEN LOW
WE’VE COME A WAYS ALREADY
WE’VE GOT A WAYS TO GO
2
WE’VE COME A WAYS ALREADY
WE’VE GOT A WAYS TO GO
LET’S GIVE UP TALKING TURKEY
AND TAKE UP EATING CROW
THERE MUST BE SOME ADVANTAGE
WE’RE NOT OBLIGED TO PRESS
THE TRAUMA OF OUR HISTORY
REMAINS LARGELY UNADDRESSED
ALTHOUGH WE’RE DOGGED BY INSTINCT
TO SPEAK AT EVERY STUMP
AND SIMPLY CAN’T RESIST THE URGE
TO SOUND THE LAST TRUMP
OUR TWENTY MILES OF PEACE WALLS
MUST FALL WITH JERICHO
WE’VE COME A WAYS ALREADY
WE’VE GOT A WAYS TO GO
WE’VE COME A WAYS ALREADY
WE’VE GOT A WAYS TO GO
AND THERE ARE STILL SOME ISSUES
AROUND WHICH WE TIPTOE
WE CARRY SO MUCH BAGGAGE
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO CHECK
OUR DEVOTION TO OUR BIRTHRIGHT
IS A MILLSTONE ROUND OUR NECKS
LET’S NOT END UP AS SAMSON
CAUGHT BETWEEN PILLAR AND POST
THE GREENGAGE AND THE DAMSON
VYING TO BE UPPERMOST
WHEN WHAT WE NEED TO PRESERVE
IS PARITY OF ESTEEM
AND THE HEIGHT OF OUR AMBITION
IS TO TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM
WE’RE APT TO MAKE A WEAPON
OUT OF ANY TOOL
EVEN THE CALMEST MILLPOND
MAY HARBOR A WHIRLPOOL
IT’S INTO JUST SUCH AN EDDY
WE POUR NOT OIL BUT OUR WOES
WE’VE COME A WAYS ALREADY
WE’VE GOT A WAYS TO GO
3
WE’VE COME A WAYS ALREADY
WE’VE GOT A WAYS TO GO
NORTHERN IRELAND’S CHANGING
THAT’S THE NEW STATUS QUO
IT MIGHT SEEM 1998
PREDATED THE ICE AGE
WE MUST REMIND OUR CHILDREN
THEY HAVE TO REENGAGE
WITH OUR BLOODLESS COVENANT
AND START EVERY SENTENCE WITH BUT
OR THEY’LL BE DOOMED
TO BE STUCK IN AN ANCIENT RUT
OUR TENDENCY TO USE DEADLY FORCE
MUST BE DEALT A DEATH BLOW
WE’VE COME A WAYS ALREADY
WE’VE GOT A WAYS TO GO
WE’VE COME A WAYS ALREADY
WE’VE GOT A WAYS TO GO
WHEN WE KNOW THINGS ARE COOKING
WE NEED TO TAKE IT SLOW
AS FOR THE VALIANT BACKING
THAT’S COME FROM THE USA
THERE’S NO OVERSTATING
THAT’S STILL A MAINSTAY
WE’VE COME A WAYS ALREADY
WE’VE GOT A WAYS TO GO
LED BY ONE OF THE BURNING BUSHES
BY BILL BY BARACK BY JOE
THEY’VE HELPED DESIGN THE MANSION
ON WHICH WE’VE TAKEN A LEASE
THEIR ONLY FORM OF EXPANSION
UPON THE IDEA OF PEACE
WHEN PEACE WOULDN’T HAVE HAPPENED
WITHOUT THE BRAVE LEADERSHIP
OF OUR OWN POLITICIANS
WHATEVER TIDES MIGHT RIP
WE’VE COME A WAYS ALREADY
WE’VE GOT A WAYS TO GO
THAT MEANS HOLDING STEADY
WHATEVER WINDS MIGHT BLOW
THAT MEANS HOLDING STEADY
SAYING YEA RATHER THAN NO
WE’VE COME A WAYS ALREADY
WE’VE GOT A WAYS TO GO