Kilmainham Gaol

I am a young Dubliner
Nineteen sixteen
My life's nearly over
So little I've seen
But my father taught me
Before he passed on
Fight for your freedom
It's all that you own

Our bold proclamation
Declaring our land
Expelled from the grip
Of another's cruel hand
Was there proudly read
On that fine Easter morn
The birth pains of nationhood
Soon be reborn

So sorely outnumbered
We took up the fight
And fought with great passion
Against all of their might
They crushed us down
But they strengthened our core
And this time the message
Will come to the fore

And now one by one
To the courtyard we are led
It's a matter of days
We will all soon be dead
But we'll hold our heads high
And may Ireland prevail
I wait to die, my mother cries
Outside Kilmainham Gaol

Our wounded commander
No weakness did show
But then they set fire
To the ould GPO
We had to flee
And our chances grew dim
And finally the message
Was sadly brought in

Lay down your arms, lads
We've done what we can
More bloodshed now
Only darkens our stand
Our voices were heard
And the people have seen
May they rise as one
Though we'll die for the dream

Chorus

And now in the bowels
Of Kilmainham I lie
My soul is at peace
In the morning I die
On cold barren stone
I drop to my knees
I pray for my country
May God give it speed