Lyrics

Long Way From Miami

There had always been The Troubles, through it all the bands played on
The Castle Ballroom, Banbridge heard The Miami Showband’s last song
There had always been the checkpoints, The Queen’s Army on the watch
When The UDR came calling, you’d smile sweetly resist the craic.
Did they die for Queen and Country? Did they die for a Papal Kiss?
Lined up by the roadside, Christ how did it all come to this?

It was a long way from Miami – Down the Dublin road
Many a band travelled that way – Some never came back

The UVF were planning to plant a bomb in the old gig van
For an Ulster man to discover to show The Miamis were IRA men
But the bomb it went off too early, to their maker two UVF went
In the carnage that was to follow – three Miamis were heaven sent

It was a long way from Miami – Down the Dublin road
Many a band travelled that way – Some never came back

Two survived to tell the story – such a terrible thing to bear
To see your band mates maimed and slaughtered in the cold, blood-red, Newry air
So when you’re driving on the bypass say a prayer for the boys in the band
You’ll probably hear them singing
“They used to call us... The Miami Showband”

It was a long way from Miami – Down the Dublin road
Many a band travelled that way – Some never came back
Many a band travelled that way – Some never came back