There was a song by The Stray Cats called Storm The Iranian Embassy. It was one of their great numbers, it was like a punk rock, political rock-a-billy number. Dave Sharp was really into that, and Across The Border was heavily influenced by that and also by Dave, when he was in the navy, had docked in Belfast and had some experiences in the Falls Road. He really wanted to see and experience what Ireland was all about. And this is the song he wrote of his experience in the middle of the troubles. It was one of the first things he ever did for The Alarm – Mike Peters – Alarm 2000 Day
I’m not looking at it from the point of view that Ireland is in conflict, I’m standing back from it and saying what is the cause of this conflict? Who is ultimately responsible? Is it the people shouting about it in the street, or is it the people being encouraged to shout about it. I’m not being very concise here, but it’s not as simple as it looks – Dave Sharp 1982 – ZigZag Magazine interview
Across The Border was first released as one of the two tracks on the B-Side of the Marching On 7″ single released in October 1982. When The Alarm travelled to the USA to support U2 on the War tour in 1983, the two singles Marching On and The Stand along with the B-sides were put together as a 5 track mini album which became known as Eponymous. This EP was extended with extra tracks from the 1981 to 1983 period for the Alarm 2000 collection version of Eponymous and the later remastered double CD and vinyl version of Eponymous released in 2018. Details of the remasters and new recordings can be viewed in the Alternative studio recording releases tab below.
This song appeared in the very early sets for The Alarm, certainly being played at the second gig at The Stables, St Aspath, Wales on 30th June 1981. There have been multiple live versions of the song released and these appear in date order of the gig date in the officially released live recordings tab.
Running length 3:30
Written by Sharp
Musicians & Credits
Dave Sharp – Lead Vocals, Electric Guitar
Mike Peters – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Backing Vocals
Mark Feltham – Harmonica
Angie Knox – Hammond organ
Recorded at Matrix Studios, London SW6, England 7th September 1982
Produced by Aricentus (Steve Tannett and Harry Murlowski) and Ian Wilson
Engineered by Jess Sutcliffe
Alternative studio recording releases ~ demo, remasters, re-imagined
1982 – Demo Recording details
Running length 3:36
Musicians & Credits
Dave Sharp – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Mike Peters – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Whistle, Backing Vocals
Recorded at Britannia Row Studios, London N1, August 1982
Demo session funded by Ian Wilson
(This recording has never officially been released but features on a bootleg single)
2000 – The Alarm – The Alarm 2000 Collection Box Set : Eponymous 1981-1983 [Remastered]
Running length 3:39
Musicians & Credits
Dave Sharp – Lead Vocals, Electric Guitar
Mike Peters – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Backing Vocals
Mark Feltham – Harmonica
Angie Knox – Hammond organ
Remastered from the 1983 original recording by Mike Peters
Remastering Engineered by Gary Butler @ RTS Liverpool in 2000
2014 – Recording details – The Alarm – Peace Train
Running length 2:54
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Drums, Percussion
Recorded at Bethel Chapel Studios, Dyserth, North Wales
Produced by Michael Peters
Recorded and mixed by Mark Warden
2018 – The Alarm – Eponymous [1981-1983] [Remastered]
Running length 3:39
Musicians & Credits
Dave Sharp – Lead Vocals, Electric Guitar
Mike Peters – Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Eddie Macdonald – Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
Nigel Twist – Drums, Backing Vocals
Mark Feltham – Harmonica
Angie Knox – Hammond organ
Remastered from the 1983 original recording by Pete Maher
Remastering supervised by Mike Peters
Album appearances and discography for studio versions
All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated
2000 – The Alarm – Eponymous (1981-1983) – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C010. Appearing as part of the Alarm 2000 collection box set and then later as an individual disc (CD). 1982 single remastered.
2014 – The Alarm – The Peace Train – Twenty First Century Recording Company, Cat. No. 21C066. (CD). 2014 Bethel Chapel Studios recording.
16th March 2018 – The Alarm – Eponymous (1981-1983) remastered – Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue numbers double vinyl LP 21C093 and double CD 21C095. 1982 single remastered.
Single and EP appearances and discography for studio versions
UK Release
October 1982 – 7″ vinyl single – Marching On, B-side. Illegal Records, catalogue number ILS032
USA & Canada Release
1983 -5 track EP – Eponymous. IRS Records catalogue number. SP70504 (12″ vinyl), CS70504 (cassette)
Europe
1983 -5 track 12″ Vinyl EP – Eponymous. IRS/Illegal Records catalogue number. ILP 25573
Bootleg Single
Mid 1980s’ – 7″ vinyl single – What Kind of Hell, B-side. This is a copy of the 1982 demo recording.
Worldwide Release
2003 – 20th Anniversary Collectors Edition CD of the Eponymous EP with enhanced CD-Rom with additional features. Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C031.
Officially released live recordings – Audio
All the following are Worldwide releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
(Except where stated)
27th September 1983. Recorded live at Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Running length 3:16
Band Line up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist
Released on CD in 1999 as The Alarm Live on the King Biscuit Flower Hour
(Released on King Biscuit records in the UK – catalogue number KBFHCD028, USA – catalogue number 70710-88049-2, Spain – catalogue number CELCD 027
Released on CD in 2002 as The Alarm Blaze of Glory
(Released on Disky in Europe – catalogue number SI 794172)
Released on DVD-Audio in 2003 as The Alarm From The Front Row ….. Live!
(Released on Silverline in the USA – catalogue number 288157-9)
14th February 1984. Recorded live at Hammersmith Palais, London W6, England
Running length 3:11
Band Line up : Mike Peters, Dave Sharp, Eddie Macdonald and Nigel Twist
Released on CD in 2002 as The Alarm Record Collectors Club Vol II – Hammersmith 1984, catalogue number ARCC002
6th August 2005. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London NW8, England
Running Length 3:25 Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released in 2005 on Alarmstock III Volume 1 London – Set 3 A Fuse Has Been Lit In The House
26th November 2012. Record at The Thunderbolt, Bristol, England
Running Length 2:29. Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released on CD in 2012 Mike Peters of the Alarm – 30th Anniversary Acoustic Alarm Tour 1981-2011, catalogue number 21C059
5th April 2014. Recorded at The Deaf Institute, Manchester, England
Running length : 3.32 + 43 second intro. Mike Peters acoustic
Released in 2014 on DVD – Declaration – Live From The Deaf Institute (audio disc), catalogue number 21CDVD017
18th April 2014. Recorded at McCabe’s, Santa Monica, California, USA
Running Length 2:53 Mike Peters Solo acoustic
Released on CD in 2014 Mike Peters In Concert at McCabe’s, catalogue number 21C069
Officially released live recordings – VHS/DVD
All the following are Worldwide releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
(Except where stated)
5th April 2014. Recorded at The Deaf Institute, Manchester, England
Running length : 3.32 + 43 second intro. Mike Peters acoustic
Released in 2014 on DVD – Declaration – Live From The Deaf Institute, catalogue number 21CDVD017
Lyrics – 1982 Matrix Studios, London – Marching On/Eponymous releases
Across the Irish border
Hidden in a car
And there’s Guns and ammunition
That were smuggled from Armagh
Well that’s not right – and they should stop the fight
And they should sort it out
And they let them march and let them should
Kill it shoot it down
(And if you) Bum it to the ground
Kill it light the fuse
What’s the point, oh what’s the use
Kill it shoot it down
(And if you) Bum it to the ground
(And you) Kill it light the fuse
There ain’t no point and there ain’t no use
Now Mr Ian Paisleys marching
From Ireland to ‘L.A.’
Now he’s looking for your sympathy
And guns for the U.D.A.
Well that’s not right – and they should stop the fight
And they should sort it out
And they let them march and let them shout
Kill it shoot it down
(And if you) Bum it to the ground
Kill it light the fuse
What’s the point & what’s the use
Kill it shoot it down
(And if you) Bum it to the ground
(And you) Kill it light the fuse
There ain’t no point and there ain’t no use
(What about the guns)
(What about the guns)
Well now the letter bombs are posted
And the booby traps are laid
And the British soldiers marching
They’re marching to their graves
Well that’s not right – and they should stop the fight
And they should sort it out – and they let them march
And let them shout.
Kill it shoot it down
(And if you) Bum it to the ground
Kill it light the fuse
What’s the point & what’s the use
Kill it shoot it down
(And if you) Bum it to the ground
Kill it light the fuse
There ain’t no point and there ain’t no use
Alternative lyrics – 1982 Britannia Row Studios, London – Demo recording
Across the Irish border
Hidden in a car
Guns and ammunition
Smuggled from Armagh
Well that’s not right – and they should stop the fight
And they should sort it out – and they stop the march
And they stop the crowd
The Irish reb’s a gunman
His pistol’s Russian grey
And when you ask who gave it to him He says “”The U.S.A.””
Well that’s not right – and they should stop the fight
And they should sort it out – and they should let them march And let them shout.
(If you) Kill it shoot it down Bum it to the ground
Kill it light the fuse
What’s the point what’s the use
(If you) Kill it shoot it down Bum it to the ground
Kill it light the fuse
There ain’t no point and there ain’t no use.
Ian Paisleys marching
From Ireland to ‘L.A.’
Asking for some sympathy and guns for the U.D.A.
Well that’s not right – and they should stop the fight And they should sort it out – and they stop the march And they stop the crowd.
The letter bombs are posted
And the booby traps are laid
And the British soldiers marching
They’re marching to their graves
Well that’s not right – and they should stop the fight
And they should sort it out – and they should let them march
And let them shout
(If you) Kill it shoot it down
Bum it to the ground
Kill it light the fuse
What’s the point what’s the use
(If you) Kill it shoot it down
Bum it to the ground
Kill it light the fuse
There ain’t no point and there ain’t no use.
Audio & Visual sources
Audio Link – 2018 Remastered version from Eponymous 1981-1983. Official upload to The Alarm Youtube channel.
Audio Link – Bootleg Single version upload to Youtube by Pete Cole. This is the 1982 demo recording.
Video Link – Live version performed by Mike Peters at the Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh, Scotland 22nd February 2014. Uploaded to Youtube by misterpunk.
(Page updated 06/11/2022)