December 8, 2008 12:12

MP attacks Dido over IRA-connected lyrics

Singer told to 'clarify her position' after quoting folk song on new album

Dido has been criticised for using lyrics associated with the IRA by a Member Of Parliament.

The song from recent album 'Safe Trip Home', 'Let's Do The Things We Normally Do', was written by Dido and Jon Brion and contains lyrics from 'The Men Behind The Wire' by Northern Irish folk band Barleycorn.

'The Men Behind The Wire' is now associated with extreme republican movements such as Continuity IRA and the Real IRA, reports The Daily Mail.

Among the borrowed lines used in Dido's 'Let's Do The Things We Normally Do' are: "Armoured cars and tanks and guns/ Came to take away our sons/ But every man must stand behind/ The men behind the wire".

Gregory Campbell, MP for East Londonderry and Minister For Sports, Arts And Leisure in the Belfast devolved government has criticised Dido, whose father was of Irish descent.

"Given her Irish roots, it is inconceivable that she doesn't know the background of the wording," Campbell declared. "She must know it was written about people who were murderers, arsonists and terrorists. She should clarify her position so that her fans and the wider public knows where she stands on these things."