THE BOYS OF WEXFORD.
I
In comes the captain's daughter, the captain of the Yeos—saying,
“Brave United man, we'll ne'er again be foes:
A thousand pounds I'll give you and fly from home with thee;
I'll dress myself in man's attire and fight for libertie.
Chorus.
We are the Boys of Wexford who fought with heart and hand
To burst in twain the galling chain, and free our native land.
II
And when we left our cabins, boys, we left with right good will,
To join our friends and neighbours encamped on Vinegar Hill;
A young man from our ranks a cannon he let go;
He slapped it into Lord Mountjoy—a tyrant he laid low.
We are the Boys of Wexford who fought with heart and hand
To burst in twain the galling chain, and free our native land.
III
At Three Rocks and Tubberneering how well we won the day,
Depending on the long bright pike, and well it worked its way:
At Wexford and at Oulart we made them quake with fear;
For every man could do his part, like Forth and Shelmaliere.
We are the Boys of Wexford who fought with heart and hand
To burst in twain the galling chain, and free our native land.
IV
My curse upon all drinking—'twas that that brought us down;
It lost us Ross and Wexford, and many another town.
And if for want of leaders we lost at Vinegar Hill,
We're ready for another fight and love our country still.
We are the Boys of Wexford who fought with heart and hand
To burst in twain the galling chain, and free our native land.
