From the recording Double Down
This song is, horribly, a true story. It' considers that consequences, in real lives, that Religion and Politics extract. An out of this world cover of Colin Meloy's song, originally released by The Decemberists, that relates how neighbor killing neighbor over religious differences has never really stopped, despite the last Biblical flood. Colette has only ever done originals, so, for for her, this is a powerful, and timely, re-telling.
Lyrics
The Shankill Butchers ride tonight you better shut your windows tight
They’re sharpening their cleavers and their knives and taking all their whiskey by the pint
Cause everybody knows if you don’t mind your mother’s words
Everybody knows the wicked wind will blow the ribbons from your curls
Everybody moan, everybody shake
The Shankill Butcher’s gonna catch you awake.
They used to be just like me and you, they used to be such sweet little boys but something went horribly askew now killing is their only source of joy
Cause everybody knows if you don’t mind your mother’s words
Everybody knows the wicked wind will blow the ribbons from your curls
Everybody moan, everybody shake
The Shankill Butcher’s gonna catch you awake.
The Shankill Butchers on the rise, they’re waiting for the dead of night
Their picking at the fingers with their knives and wiping off their cleavers on their thighs
Cause everybody knows if you don’t mind your mother’s words
Everybody knows the wicked wind will blow the ribbons from your curls
Everybody moan, everybody shake
The Shankill Butcher’s gonna catch you
The Shankill Butchers gonna catch you
The Shankill Butchers gonna catch you awake.
The Shankill Butchers gonna cut you
awake.