Alternative Ulster
Nothin’ for us in Belfast
The Pound’s so old it’s a pity
OK, there’s the trident in Bangor
Then walk back to the city
We ain’t got nothin’ but they don’t really care
They don’t even know you know
Just want our money
And we can take it or leave it
What we need
An Alternative Ulster
Grab it and change it it’s yours
Get an Alternative Ulster
Ignore the bores and their laws
Get an Alternative Ulster
Be an anti-security force
Alter your native Ulster
Alter your native land
Take a look where you’re livin’
You got the Army on your street
And the RUC dog of repression
Is barking at your feet
Is this the kind of place you wanna live?
Is this where you wanna be?
Is this the only life we’re gonna have?
What we need is
An Alternative Ulster
Grab it and change it it’s yours
Get an Alternative Ulster
Ignore the bores and their laws
Get an Alternative Ulster
Be an anti-security force
Alter your native Ulster
Alter your native land
They say they’re a part of you
But that’s not true you know
They say they’ve got control of you
And that’s a lie you know
They say you will never be
Free free free
Get an
Alternative Ulster
Alternative Ulster
Alternative Ulster
Song Notes
“Alternative Ulster” is a song by Stiff Little Fingers. It appears on their 1979 album Inflammable Material. “Alternative Ulster” was written in 1979, at the height of ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland. The song is a protest against the fact that kids in Northern Ireland were being denied what was available to their peers in the rest of the UK. Freedom to enjoy the music they wanted to hear and to enjoy the freedom of lifestyle choice that was available elsewhere and not be forced to choose to either to be ‘Irish Nationalist’ or a ‘Unionist’.
No recorded version of the track by Ash exists. However, the band played the song live with Andy Cairns of Therapy? at the Shiiine on Weekender 2022 Festival on November 12th, 2022.