The Mero - Roy Buckley (Written by Pete St John)

The Mero is a gem of a song from my late friend Pete St John. One of Irelands most prolific and legendary songwriters. Each line in this particular song needs explaining because there are so many details… I’ll explain below to help you understand the lyrics… The Mero = nickname given to the cinema on Mary Street in Dublin. “Bang-Bang” was the nickname of a man named Thomas Dudley, he was a Dublin street character from the 1950s & 60s who rode on the back of buses, hopping on and off with his large golden key and shouting "Bang! Bang!" at the kids imitating a shoutout like the cowboys in the western movies. Stater = A person who supports the Free State Tan = Black and Tan, violent British force in Ireland in 1920 Jacob's = a famous biscuit making factory. Transport Union = Trade Union representing workers, founded by James Larkin and later led by James Connolly Brown Noser = A person with their nose up the boss’ ass, trying to gain favour with the boss. Langers = Drunk Longers = Long trousers Primo = Primary Cert, equal to the Junior Cert state exam of today Scapulars = Holy necklace Helping the Black Babies = the Irish Catholic Missionaries in Africa were funded a lot by Irish people’s generosity donating the "penny for the black babies" A Baby Power = A small whiskey Alfie Byrne = an Irish politician who was an MP, a TD and a Lord Mayor of Dublin Brendan Behan = famous Poet and playwright Con Martin = played Gaelic football for Dublin and played soccer for many clubs including Leeds United and Aston Villa. Johnny Forty Coats, a character who used to wander Dublin Streets, wearing a number of coats. Hairy Lemon, another Dublin street character, named because of his oddly oval shaped head and yellowish skin… he worked as a dog catcher around the 1940s and 50s. Dolly Fawcett, a brothel owner in Dublin. Hafners sausages = famous sausage makers A jar = a pint A tanner = six pence Confo money = money gifted from family and friends for making your Confirmation In the family way = pregnant The Cisco Kid = a fictional western character in film, radio, television and comic books The Pillar = Nelson's Pillar was a giant granite column with a statue of the British admiral Haratio Nelson on top of it, it stood in O'Connell Street in Dublin for 157 years until it was blown up in March 1966 by Irish republicans on the 50th anniversary of the 1916 rising. The Holy Hour = closing restriction on pubs in Ireland on Sundays from 2pm to 4pm. It was abolished in July 2000. A Plenary Indulgence = is a reward from the Catholic Church removing all punishment due for a sin. #RoyBuckley #Irish #Music #Ireland #Singer #Song #Songwriter #PeteStJohn #Ballad #Eire #IrishSong #IrishAmerican #America #IrishMusic #IrishBallad #SongsOfIreland #Balladeer #Emigrant #IrishTraditionalMusic #IrishTrad #RoyBuckleyMusic #Cork #CorkCity #Folk #Dublin #DublinCity #IrishEmigrant #FolkMusic #FolkSong #TraditionalIrishMusic