In memory of those who sailed from Liverpool on The S.S.Arandora Star, without a destroyer escort and who tragically lost their lives when the ship was sunk by torpedo 75 miles northwest of Donegal on 2 July 1940. Of the 1673 people aboard, over 800 mainly non-combatant internees drowned. Many were refugees from fascism, or who’s families had lived in the UK for decades. The majority were Italians from cities like Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and Cardiff. Many even had sons who were away fighting with Allied forces. Many thanks to Trudie Pandolfo for telling me of this sorry outrage.
We talked so hard we lost the time
We forgot our bodies.
Well she forgot mine!
When the tallest girl with the kindest eyes
Told the bitterest tale on the wettest of nights
And I can’t fit it all into one little song
But I can give you a clue I can help you along
The simplest thing is I give you her name
And we dredge up this story of sorrow and shame
Arandora… Arandora Star...
Was she cutting up chips in Wythenshawe?
Or making ice-cream in Ancoats?
Was she making a bomber at Newton Heath?
…Those Italian ladies work hard.
There’s a knock at the door and the neighbours walk in
“That Churchill he’s collared the lot!”
And they’ve taken our men
In a paddy wagon
Down to the Birkenhead docks
Arandora …Arandora Star...
Well there you are
So, she set off in the dead of night
And there’s nobody there to wave
And there’s no Red Cross
Nor no blue flag
She’s just battleship grey in the dark
They’ve locked the old men on the decks below
And headed for Canada
But they got no further than Ireland and drowned
Far from Little Italy
Arandora …Arandora Star…
Arandora, Arandora Star...
Just what does a mother tell her son
When he comes home with his medals?
That the cause that he fought for has stolen his dad
And he lies somewhere nobody knows?
So she kept quiet like many did
Believing there must be some shame.
While her man who fought fascists at Cable Street
Lies unfound in the Donegal rain
And here we are.
We talked so hard we lost the time
We forgot our bodies…
But that was just fine
Arandora Star…
