"Oh father, why are you so sad,
on this bright Easter morn?
When Irishmen are proud and glad
Of the land where they were born."
"Oh, son, I see sad mem'ries view
Of far-off distant days,
When, being just a boy like you,
I joined the old brigade.
Where are the lads who stood with me
When history was made?
Oh, gra mo chree I long to see
The Boys of the Old Brigade.
In hills and farms the call to arms
Was heard by one and all,
And from the glens came brave young men
To answer Ireland's call.
'Twas long ago we faced the foe,
The old brigade and me,
But by my side they fought and died
That Ireland might be free.
Where are the lads who stood with me
When history was made?
Oh, gra mo chree I long to see
The Boys of the Old Brigade.
And now, my boy, I've told you why
On Easter morn I sigh
For I recall my comrades all
From dark old days gone by,
I think of men who fought in glens
With rifles and grenade
May Heaven keep the men who sleep
From the ranks of the old brigade.
Where are the lads who stood with me
When history was made?
Oh, gra mo chree I long to see
The Boys of the Old Brigade.
In Ireland's fight for freedom, boys,
The North has played her part,
And though her day has yet to come,
We never yet must part,
We'll keep the fight until the end,
We know we cannot fail.
And there's the reason why today,
They keep our lads in Crumlin Jail,
So join the fight, you volunteers,
It cannot be denied.
That jail won't break their spirits down
They'd just as soon have died.
For England knows and England hates,
Our fearless Northern name.
And that's another reason why,
They keep our lads in Crumlin Jail.
We give to Ireland Owen Roe,
We give them Shane O'Neill,
And Tone and Mitchell made a vow,
That England still would yield,
McKelvey did not die in vain,
He was a Northern Gael.
McCracken came from Belfast town,
McCorry from the Bann,
And brave Harry Munro at Ballynahinch,
But, for his native land,
Tom Williams died on scaffold high,
His name shall never fail.
on this bright Easter morn?
When Irishmen are proud and glad
Of the land where they were born."
"Oh, son, I see sad mem'ries view
Of far-off distant days,
When, being just a boy like you,
I joined the old brigade.
Where are the lads who stood with me
When history was made?
Oh, gra mo chree I long to see
The Boys of the Old Brigade.
In hills and farms the call to arms
Was heard by one and all,
And from the glens came brave young men
To answer Ireland's call.
'Twas long ago we faced the foe,
The old brigade and me,
But by my side they fought and died
That Ireland might be free.
Where are the lads who stood with me
When history was made?
Oh, gra mo chree I long to see
The Boys of the Old Brigade.
And now, my boy, I've told you why
On Easter morn I sigh
For I recall my comrades all
From dark old days gone by,
I think of men who fought in glens
With rifles and grenade
May Heaven keep the men who sleep
From the ranks of the old brigade.
Where are the lads who stood with me
When history was made?
Oh, gra mo chree I long to see
The Boys of the Old Brigade.
In Ireland's fight for freedom, boys,
The North has played her part,
And though her day has yet to come,
We never yet must part,
We'll keep the fight until the end,
We know we cannot fail.
And there's the reason why today,
They keep our lads in Crumlin Jail,
So join the fight, you volunteers,
It cannot be denied.
That jail won't break their spirits down
They'd just as soon have died.
For England knows and England hates,
Our fearless Northern name.
And that's another reason why,
They keep our lads in Crumlin Jail.
We give to Ireland Owen Roe,
We give them Shane O'Neill,
And Tone and Mitchell made a vow,
That England still would yield,
McKelvey did not die in vain,
He was a Northern Gael.
McCracken came from Belfast town,
McCorry from the Bann,
And brave Harry Munro at Ballynahinch,
But, for his native land,
Tom Williams died on scaffold high,
His name shall never fail.