Van Diemen's Land

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Predictably, I will investigate a U2 song, but it will not be "Sunday Bloody Sunday", that one is just too heavy. "Van Diemen's Land" was first included on Rattle and Hum, an awesome album that was never given a fair chance, as it was the follow up to the epic Joshua Tree. Van Diemen's Land reminds me of an old Irish drinking song.The liner notes read,"Dedicated to John Boyle O'Reilly, a Fenian poet deported from Ireland to Australia because of his poetry. [It wasn't very good . . . !]".Well, let's take a look at the poetry of The Edge as he, not Bono, was the writer and singer on this little ditty.Hold me now, oh hold me now'til this hour has gone aroundAnd I'm gone on the rising tideFor to face Van Diemen's landAccording to the always accurate Wikipedia, Van Diemen's land was the original name used by Europeans for the island of Tasmania. Abel Tasman named it in honor of Anthony van Diemen who had sent him on the voyage that discovered the island.Mr. Tasman could have just named it Tasmania after himselfto begin with, but I guess he was just too humble. In 1803 Tasmania was established as a penal colony. The Edge must have taken a little poetic license, because everything I've read (including the liner notes) says John Boyle was sent to Australia. Either way, he was probably not too thrilled with his one way ticket.It's a bitter pill I swallow hereTo be rent from one so dearWe fought for justice and not for gainBut the magistrate sent me awayFenian is a term used since the 1850s for an Irish nationalist that supports violence against British rule. The Magistrate originally gave a death sentence to O'Reilly, but because of his young age it was reduced to 20 years Down Under.Now kings will rule and the poor will toilAnd tear their hands as they tear the soilBut a day will come in this dawning ageWhen an honest man sees an honest wageO'Reilly escaped to Boston after only one year in Australia and made an honest wage and then some as an editor, writer, and poet. Ultimately, O'Reilly rejected Fenianism after witnessing their failed attempt to gain leverage over the British by invading Canada. Always an Irish patriot, he continued to advocate a free Ireland through changes in legislation.Hold me now, oh hold me now'til this hour has gone aroundAnd I'm gone on the rising tideFor to face Van Diemen's landRumor has it that U2 was receiving death threats from the IRA and decided to leave this last verse off of the album to avoid any bombings at their concerts. Still the gunman rules and widows payA scarlet coat now a black beretThey thought that blood and sacrificeCould out of death bring forth a life

- Uncle Mitch