The Wolfe Tones — Michael Collins

Come listen, all me true men, to my simple rhyme For it tells of a young man cut off in his prime A soldier and a statesman who laid down the law And to die by the roaside in lone Béal na Bláth When barely sixteen to England crossed o'er For to work as a boy in a government store But the volunteer's call he could not disobey So he came back to Dublin to join in the fray (Chorus) At Easter nineteen-sixteen when Pearse called them out The men from the Dublin battalion roved out And in the post office they nobly did show How a handful of heroes could outfight the foe To Stafford and jails transported they were As prisoners of England they soon made a stir Released before Christmas and home once again He branded old comrades together to train Dáil Éireann assembled our rights to proclaim Suppressed by the English you'd think it a shame How Ireland's best and bravest were harried and torn From the arms of their loved ones and children new born (Chorus) At Easter nineteen-sixteen when Pearse called them out The men from the Dublin battalion roved out And in the post office they nobly did show How a handful of heroes could outfight the foe For years Mick eluded their soldiers and spies For he was the master of clever disguise With the Custom House blazing she found 'twas no use And soon Mother England had asked for a truce Oh, when will the young men a sad lesson spurn That brother and brother they never should turn? Alas that a split in our ranks 'ere we saw Mick Collins stretched lifeless in lone Béal na Bláth (Chorus) At Easter nineteen-sixteen when Pearse called them out The men from the Dublin battalion roved out And in the post office they nobly did show How a handful of heroes could outfight the foe Oh, long will old Ireland be seeking in vain 'Ere we find a new leader to match the man slain A true son of Gráinne, his name long will shine Oh, gallant Mick Collins, cut off in his prime (Chorus) At Easter nineteen-sixteen when Pearse called them out The men from the Dublin battalion roved out And in the post office they nobly did show How a handful of heroes could outfight the foe