My Little Armalite is an Irish Republican song that was popular during the Troubles. Its origins are uncertain, though it appears to date from the early 1970s. The song sings the praises of the Armalite AR-180 or AR-15: American-manufactured semi-automatic rifles that were extensively used by the Provisional IRA. Its lyrics allege brutality by British soldiers and cowardice by Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officers, particularly when confronted with “my little Armalite”. The song also references items of British military equipment and two British army commanders, General Harry Tuzo and General Robert Ford (both of whom left Northern Ireland in 1973, having failed to complete their objectives). Several versions of My Little Armalite have been recorded, often with slight variations in lyrics or place names. The recording below is from Wolfhound, an Irish Republican band formed in Belfast in 1970 and known for its rebel songs.
And it’s up along the Bogside, that’s where I long to be
Lying in the dark with a Provo company
A comrade on my left and another on my right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.I was stopped by a soldier, said he “You are a swine”
He beat me with his baton and he kicked me in the groin
I begged and I pleaded, sure me manners were polite
But all the time I’m thinking of me little Armalite.And it’s up in Kilwilkie, that’s where I long to be
Lying in the dark with a Provo company
A comrade on my left hand, another one on my right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.Sure a brave RUC man came up into our street
Six hundred British soldiers he had lined up at his feet
“Come out, ye cowardly Fenians”, said he, “come out and fight”.
But he cried, “I’m only joking” when he heard the Armalite.Sure it’s down along the Falls Road, that’s where I long to be
Lying in the dark with a Provo company
A comrade on my left and another on my right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.So the army came to visit me, ’twas in the early hours
With Saladins and Saracens and Ferret armoured cars
They thought they had me cornered but I gave them all a fright
With the armour piercing bullets of my little Armalite.And it’s down across Crossmaglen, that’s where I long to be
Lying in the dark with a Provo company
A comrade on me left and another one on me right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.When Tuzo came to Belfast, he said, The battle’s won
Said General Ford “We’re winning sir, we have them on the run”
But corporals and privates, on patrol at night
Said “send for reinforcements, it’s the bloody Armalite”.And it’s up in the town, that’s where I long to be
Lying in the dark with a Provo company,
A comrade on me left and another on me right
And a clip of ammunition for my little Armalite.
© Alpha History 2017. Content on this page may not be republished or distributed without permission. For more information please refer to our Terms of Use.
This page was written by Jennifer Llewellyn and Steve Thompson. To reference this page, use the following citation:
J. Llewellyn and S. Thompson, “My Little Armalite (Wolfhound, 1975)”, Alpha History, accessed [today’s date], https://alphahistory.com/northernireland/my-little-armalite-1975/.