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