Collection of Irish Song Lyrics
Stone Throwers Ballad
Copyright: 2009
On old Tipp Hill in Syracuse in 1925
Alderman Huckle Ryan displayed the Irish pride
The traffic light on Tompkins
and Milton it was said
To put the green of Ireland
on top of Englandâs red
The request it soon was granted
but met an awful fate
From State traffic regulations
and government red tape
The red was on top again
and anger it did surge
But from this Irish neighborhood
some heroes would emerge
Enter now the children of Tipperary Hill
Who changed the situation
with a most peculiar skill
CHORUS
The red lightâs on the bottom
and the green light's on the top
So youâll think of dear old Ireland
whenever you go or stop
This spectacle youâll never see
on any other road
To tell you Irelandâs shamrock
is above old Englandâs rose
This Tipp Hill band of brothers
with stones all in their fists
Would create a situation
where the red light wonât exist
Their aim was high and mighty
as the missiles met their mark
And left the green light safe
while the red light would go dark
Jacko, Mikis, Stubbs, Eugene,
George, The Duke and Richie
Kenny, George and Bounce
and to round it off was Packy
They caused a big commotion
stone throwers one and all
And found a way in Syracuse
to answer Ireland's call
No sooner would the city
replace the lumination
When another stone would hit the mark
and change the situation
CHORUS The red lightâs on the bottom
the green light's on the top
So youâll think of dear old Ireland
whenever you go or stop
This spectacle youâll never see
on any other road
To tell you Irelandâs shamrock
is above old Englandâs rose
The pelting was relentless
so the city changed it back
The green light was on top again
thanks to this Irish pack
In 1987 the Throwers all were made
Grand Marshals of the Syracuse
St. Patrickâs Day Parade
Stone Throwers all were recognized
for deeds they all had done
While warrants for arrest
were finally expunged
Then Peter Coleman built a park
adjacent to this light
With a statue of the boys
who believed that they were right
So if you visit Syracuse
and Tipperary Hill
Youâll find the green light on the top
is burning brightly still
CHORUS
Thanks to Shirley Norquest whose father George Cowburn was a 'Stone Thrower' Shirley provided me with all the historical information Thanks to Brian Hyland for helping shape the melody and the arrangement
