'Ireland Forever'

ERIN GO BRAGH

I'll tell you a story of a row in the town,

When the green flag went up and the Crown rag came down, '

Twas the neatest and sweetest thing ever you saw,

And they played the best games played in Erin Go Bragh.

One of our comrades was down at Ring's end,

For the honor of Ireland to hold and defend,

He had no veteran soldiers but volunteers raw,

Playing sweet Mauser music for Erin Go Bragh.

Now here's to Tom Pearce and our comrades who died

Tom Clark, McDunna, McDurmott, McBryde,

And here's to Jan Connelly who gave one hurrah,

And placed the machine guns for Erin Go Bragh.

One brave English captain was ranting that day,

Saying, "Give me one hour and I'll blow you away,"

But a big Mauser bullet got stuck in his craw,

And he died of lead poisoning in Erin Go Bragh.

Old Kent and his comrades like lions at bay,

From the South Dublin Union poured death and dismay,

And what was their horror when the Englishmen saw

All the dead khaki soldiers in Erin Go Bragh.

Now here's to old Dublin, and here's her renown,

In the long generation her fame will go down,

And our children will tell how their forefathers saw,

The red blaze of freedom in Erin Go Bragh.

concerning the Easter Uprising of 1916

ERIN-GO-BRAGH

My name's Duncan Campbell from the shire of Argyll

I've traveled this country for many's the mile

I've traveled through Ireland, Scotland and a'

And the name I go under's bold Erin-go-bragh

One night in Auld Reekie as I walked down the street

A saucy big polis I chanced for to meet

He glowered in my face and he gi'ed me some jaw

Sayin' "When cam' ye over, bold Erin-go-bragh?"

 "Well I am not a Pat though in Ireland I've been

Nor am I a Paddy though Ireland I've seen

But were I a Pat, now, what's that at a'?

For there's many's the bold hero from Erin-go-bragh"

"Well I know you're a Pat by the cut of your hair

But you all turn to Scotsmen as soon as you're here

You left your ain country for breaking the law

And we're seizing all stragglers from Erin-go-bragh"

"Were I a Pat and you knew it were true

Or were I the devil, then what's it to you?

Were it not for the stick that you hold in your paw

I would show you a game played in Erin-go-bragh"  

And a lump of blackthorn that I held in my fist

Around his big body I made it to twist

And the blood from his napper I quickly did draw

And paid him stock-and-interest for Erin-go-bragh

Then the people came around like a flock of wild geese

Crying "Catch that daft rascal, he's killed the police"

And for every friend I had I'll swear he had twa

It was terrible hard times for Erin-go-bragh

But I cam' to a wee boat that sailed in the Forth

And I packed up my gear and I steered for the North

Farewell to Auld Reekie, you polis and a'

And the devil gang with you, says Erin-go-bragh

So come all you young people, wherever you're from

I don't give a damn to what place you belong

I come from Argyll in the Hielands so braw

But I ne'er took it ill being called Erin-go-bragh