Hi there, dunno if this is the right sub for such questions, also 1st time posting here.
I recently found the song “The Lid of My Granny’s Bin” and could not figure out the meaning of it, I presume that the “bin” is some code word for a rifle? Or is it some Irish slang? Can anyone shine some light on the meaning of the song?
YT song link ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxCtpBIDZdQ&ab\_channel=Blackthorn-Topic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxCtpBIDZdQ&ab_channel=Blackthorn-Topic))
Lyrics:
\[Verse 1\]
As I was climbing into bedMy poor granny’s side
I looked out of the windowAnd the army had arrived
The house was soon surrounded
They battered the front door inI knew they come to take away
The lid of me Granny’s bin
\[Chorus\]
And it was scream, bang, shoutRaise an awful din
You’ve got to spread a warning
When the army, they come in!
\[Verse 2\]
She opened up the windaeAnd she clambered down a spout
Soon her bin was rattlingFor to call the neighbors out
She then took out a whistle
And she blew away like hell
And soon we heard the echo
As the neighbors blew as well
\[Chorus\]
\[Verse 3\]
A soldier came right up the stairs
His rifle in his hand
She kicked him with her button boots
And along the hall she ran
Then up and stepped another one
Some medals for to win
But all he got right up the gob
Was the lid of me granny’s bin
\[Chorus\]
\[Verse 4\]
The music rose like thunder
As the bins and whistles played
The army soon retreated
They knew they’d overstayed
It wasn’t made of silver
It was only made of tin
But once again it saved the street
The lid of me Granny’s bin
\[Chorus\]
\[Verse 5\]
Now war has had its weapons
Since men began to fight
And everyone has different ways
To try and show their mightThe army has tried everything
To cover up its sins
And now the Plastic Bullets failed
They’re trying plastic bins!
\[Chorus\]
\[Verse 6\]
Go home kind friends and go to bed
Sleep as best you can
But if trouble comes alongGet out and lend a hand
To all you fair young ladies
If trouble does begin
Get out into your backyard, love
And rattle away at your bin!
\[Chorus\]
4 comments
The women used to bang the lids of their bins to warn the RA when the brits were coming
No code at all.
When the army arrived on a street to do a roundup, the women of the street would go out with bin lids and whistles to let the men of the area know that the brits were there. They’d simply make as much noise as they possibly could to alert people who might want to make a hasty getaway.
Edit: I should add, just in case you’re not aware, it’s a northern rebel song, with its origins in the troubles era Belfast.
Women and kids used to bang binlids on the ground whenever British soldiers were attempting a raid in an area or to alert the IRA of some sort of serious event (a shooting or arrest).
See: https://www.reddit.com/r/PropagandaPosters/comments/60jqb5/international_womens_day_1982_ireland/
Women and kids used to bang the metal bin lids on the footpath to warn everybody in the area that the Brits were doing the rounds.
Not the same since the plastic bins came in.