Great Nations of Europe

What examples from the song are ironic? How can you tell?

This song drips out irony from where you look at it, but I believe the most important example is the title in itself. When he says the “great nations of Europe” he’s laughing at the fact that the Europeans in the 16^th century thought of themselves as such saviors and godlike, when al they really did was slaughter the Indians into nothingness therefore showing that Europe at that time showed everything but greatness.

What examples are not ironic?  How can you tell?

“Columbus sailed for India found Salvador instead.
He shook hands with some Indians and soon they all were dead.”

This example is extremely literal, giving the fact that we all know that that statement was very well true. When Columbus arrived to San Salvador, all he wanted was the gold and colonization, but since they gave him the slightest opposition, they were all slaughtered in terrible ways.