Close your eyes and come with me back to 1984
We'll take a walk down Henry Street to Dunnes department store
The supermarket is busy and the registers make a din
The groceries go rolling out and the cash comes rolling in
Mary Manning is at the checkout and she's trying to keep warm
When a customer comes up to her with a basket on her arm
The contents of the basket Mary's future was to shape
For the label clearly stated "Produce of the Cape"
?I can't check out your oranges missus now won?t you bring them back
For they come from South Africa where white oppresses black
I'd have it on my conscience and I couldn't sleep at night
If I helped support a system that denies black people's rightsâ?
Our union says don't handle them it's the least that we can do
We fought oppression here for centuries we'll help them fight it too
The managers descended in an avalanche of suits
And Mary was suspended 'cause she wouldn't touch the fruits
Dunnes Stores, Dunnes Stores, Dunnes Stores
In St. Bernard better value beats them all
Her friends were all behind her and the union gave support
They called a strike and their pickets brought all Dunnes stores to a halt
No-one was going to tell the boss, what he bought or sold
These women are only workers, they must do as they are told
Isn't that just typical of Apartheid?s cruel law
It's not just in South Africa, the rich trampling the poor
He wouldn't have a boycott, he couldn't give a Tinker's curse
It doesn't matter how he fills the shelves so long as he lines his purse
The messages came rolling from all around the world
For such concern and sacrifice, and for courage brave and bold
When fourteen months were over ten women and a man
Had helped to raise black consciousness all around the land
Clery's in O'Connell Street wouldn't sell South African shoes
Bestman sent all their clothes back, Roche's stores their booze
Until all South Africa goods were taken off the shelves in Dunnes
Mary Manning was down in Henry Street, sticking to her guns
(Chorus)
