Lyrics of "The House Down in Carne" or "The Ballad of Nuke Power".

Christy Moore sang it in the late 1970's. He also sang it on "The Late-Late Show", on Irish national television (RTE), in 1979. The song was written by my wife's uncle, Jim "Doc" Whelan, when the Irish Government was intent on building Ireland's first nuclear power plant in Carne, near Carnsore Point in 1978. There was much protest at the time, and a number of anti-nuclear festivals were held in Wexford. Christy was a frequent artist at these. It was there that Doc gave him the song. Rumour has it that this song is available on vinyl, along with a group of other anti-nuke protestors. It's in "The Christy Moore Songbook", but the lyrics are slightly different. (BTW, they never did build that nuke power plant. Today, Ireland is nuclear-free !! 8-) ). Sadly, Doc died in October 1996.

The House Down in Carne (The Ballad of Nuke Power)

My name is Nuke Power, a terror am I,
I can cause such destruction on land, sea or sky.
Your Minister tells you I'll do you no harm,
If he locks me up in that house down in Carne.

CHORUS

Tooraloo, Tooralay,
I can cripple and maim,
Cause death and decay.

He'll have me well guarded, by night and by day,
With soldiers on land and with sailors at sea;
But no one can tame me; I'll be restless, I warn,
If he locks me up in that house down in Carne.

CHORUS

Such a beautiful country I see all around,
Where people and flowers and fishes abound.
I'll change that whole scene in ten seconds, I warn,
If he locks me up in that house down in Carne.

CHORUS

I'll poison your children, I'll strangle your dog,
I'll kill every creature on land, sea or bog.
I'll devastate Ireland from Killarney to Larne,
If he locks me up in that house down in Carne.

CHORUS

Now, I have three comrades called wind, rain and sun,
Very powerful they are, and also great fun.
Treat them with respect and they'll do you no harm.
They'll work for you free every day down in Carne.

CHORUS

Now to all you fine people, I make this strong plea.
Go tell your Minister to let me go free.
If you don't try to use me, I'll do you no harm,
So don't let him lock me in his house down in Carne.

Jim "Doc" Whelan (reproduced with permission of the author)