The Wolfe Tones — Mick Collins

Come listen, all me true men, to my simple rhyme For it tells of a young man put off in his prime A soldier and a statesman who layed down the law And to die by the roadside 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 volunteers' call he could not disobey So he came back to Dublin to join in the fray (Chorus) At Easter 1916 when Pearse called them out The men from the Dublin battalion rode out And in the Post Office they nobly did show How a handful of heroes could outfight the foe To Stafford and gaols transported they were As prisoners of England they soon made a stir Released before Christmas and home once again Rebranded old comrades together to train Dáíl Éireann assembled our rights to proclaim Suppressed by the English, you'd think it a shame Oh, Ireland's best and bravest were harried and torn From the arms of their loved ones and children newborn (Chorus) At Easter 1916 when Pearse called them out The men from the Dublin battalion rode 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 on brother they never should turn Alas, that a split in our ranks here we saw Mick Collins stretched lifeless in lone Béal na Bláth (Chorus) At Easter 1916 when Pearse called them out The men from the Dublin battalion rode 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 our new leader to match the man slain A true son of Gráinne, his name long will shine Oh, gallant Mike Collins, cut off in his prime (Chorus) At Easter 1916 when Pearse called them out The men from the Dublin battalion rode out And in the Post Office they nobly did show How a handful of heroes could outfight the foe