Come all you true bred Irishmen that are inclined to roam
To reap the English harvest so far away from home
Be sure you are provided with comrades just and true
For you’ll have to fight both day and night with John_Bull³ and his crew [Note 524.2]
When we left home for Dublin the weather it was clear
And when we got upon the deck the weather it was clear
Hurrah me boys for Paddy’s land, the place that we adore
May Heaven smile upon the child that loves the Shamrock shore.
We sailed away then from the quay, and ne’er received a shock
Until we landed safe on shore, one side Clarence dock [Note 524.3]
And numbers of our Irishmen did meet us in the town
Hurra me boys for Paddy’s land, twas the word went round – [Note 524.4]
Away we went with one content, to drink strong ale and wine
And each man drank a favourite toast to those he left behind
We drank and sung the tavern rung despised old Erin’s foes
Or any man that hates the land where Patrick’s shamrock grows
Next morning by the break of day as quickly you shall hear
One hundred strong we walk along withont (sic) dread or fear
Each mam (sic) had a black-thorn he brought from Paddy’s land
And a hook that glanced like polished steel, or silver in his hand
We tramped away for three long days, high wages for to find
And on the following evening, unto a railway line
The navys they walked up to us and loudly the didy (sic) hail
They cursed and damned the Paddy’s or the sons of Greneuail
Then up spoke Barny Walsh and says what do you’s mean
Are we not men the same as you and hates a coward’s name
So leave our way without delay or some of you will fall
For here stand the sons of Irishmen, who never feared a ball –
Those English Navvies swore they’d kill us every one
And makes us think of ’98 Ballinamuch and Slieneamon
Father Maguire just and true they curs’d his blest remains
Which made the county Leitrim boys to burn for revenge
Then up steps Barney Reilly and knocks a ganger down
The bricks and stones all like hail in showers fell around
We fought from half past four until the son was going set
When Reilly says my Irish boys I fear we will be beat
But now with me my countrymen renew the fight once more
Assailed their foes on every side more desperate than before
We’ll let them know before we go we’d rather fight than fly
For you know boys when at the worst that we’d rather die
We sallied back with Barney and encompassed them around
Like Sampson and the Philistines we laid them on the ground [Note 524.6]
We fought our way upon that day we never did give o’er
Until we proved ourselves true Irish from off the shamrock shore.
When the fight commenced the second time its then you’d see some fun
When the sythes (sic) and hooks(1) flourished sure the Navvies were undone [Note 524.5]
The cowardly clan away they ran with their hands and arms sor (sic)
So they’ll think of Barney Reilly and the boys of a Ballymore
But here’s long life to O’Reilly, M’Cormack and M’Cabe
Likewise brave M’Carthy who never was afraid
And every man from Paddy’s land taht fought upon taht day
And forced those English Navvies in haste to run away