Jackets green, The
Michael Scanlan 

When I was a maiden fair and young, 
On the pleasant banks of Lee, 
No bird that in the greenwood sung, 
Was half so blithe and free.
My heart ne'er beat with flying feet, 
No love sang me his queen, 
Till down the glen rode Sarsfield's men, 
And they wore the jackets green.

Young Donal sat on his gallant grey
Like a king on a royal seat,
And my heart leaped out on his regal way
To worship at his feet.
O Love, had you come in those colours dressed,
And wooed with a soldier's mein
I'd have laid my head on your throbbing breast
For the sake of your jacket green. 

No hoarded wealth did my love own,
Save the good sword that he bore;
But I loved him for himself alone
And the colour bright he wore.
For had he come in England's red
To make me England's queen,
I'd rove the high green hills instead
For the sake of the Irish green. 

When William stormed with shot and shell
At the walls of Garryowen,
In the breach of death my Donal fell,
And he sleeps near the Treaty Stone.
That breach the foeman never crossed
While he swung his broadsword keen;
But I do not weep my darling lost,
For he fell in his jacket green. 

When Sarsfield sailed away I wept 
As I heard the wild ochone.
I felt, then dead as the men who slept 
'Neath the fields of Garryowen.
White Ireland held my Donal blessed, 
No wild sea rolled between, 
Till I would fold him to my breast 
All robed in his Irish green.

My soul has sobbed like waves of woe, 
That sad o'er tombstones break, 
For I buried my heart in his grave below, 
For his and for Ireland's sake.
And I cry. "Make way for the soldier's bride 
In your halls of death, sad queen 
For I long to rest by my true love's side 
And wrapped in the folds of green."

I saw the Shannon's purple tide 
Roll by the Irish town, 
As I stood in the breach by Donal's side 
When England's flag went down.
And now it lowers when I seek the skies, 
Like a blood red curse between.
I weep, but 'tis not women's sighs 
Will raise our Irish green.

Oh, Ireland, said is thy lonely soul, 
And loud beats the winter sea, 
But sadder and higher the wild waves roll 
O'er the hearts that break for thee.
Yet grief shall come to our heartless foes, 
And their thrones in the dust be seen, 
So, Irish Maids, love none but those 
Who wear the jackets green.

 

Johnson`s motor car.

 

   It was down by Brannigan's corner one morning I did stray.
   I met a fellow rebel and to me he did say
   He had orders from our Captain to assemble at Dunbar
   But how the hell will we get there without a motor car.

   Oh Barney dear be of good cheer I'll tell you what you'll do.
   The Specials they are plentiful but the I.R.A. are few,
   We'll send a wire to Johnson to meet us at Stranlar
   And we'll give the boys a jolly good drive in Johnson's Motor Car.

   When Doctor Johnson heard the news he soon put on his shoes
   He said this is an urgent case, there is not time to lose,
   He then put on his castor hat and on his breast a star,
   You could hear the din going through Glen Fin of Johnson's
   Motor Car.

   But when he got to the Railway Bridge, the rebels he saw there,
   Ould Johnson knew the game was up for at him they did stare;
   He said I have a permit to travel near and far,
   To hell with your English permit, we want you motor car.

   What will my loyal brethren think when they hear the news
   My car it has been commandeered by the rebels at Dunluce,
   We'll give you a receipt for it, all signed by Captain Barr
   When Ireland gets her freedom, you'll get your motor car

   Well they put that car in motion and they filled it to the brim
   With guns and bayonets shining, which made ould Johmon grim.
   Then Barney hoisted the Sinn Fein flag and it fluttered like a star,
   And we gave three cheers for the I.R.A. and Johnson's motor car.

 

  James Connolly

 

   A great crowd had gathered outside of Kilmainhem
   With their heads all uncovered they knelt on the ground
   For inside that grim  prison lay a brave Irish soldier
   His life for his country about to lay down.


   He went to his death like a true son of Ireland,
   The fireing party he bravely did face.
   Then the order rang out: "Present arms, Fire!";
   James Connolly fell into a ready made grave.


   The black flag they hoisted, the cruel deed was over,
   Gone was the man who loved Ireland so well,
   There was many a sad heart in Ireland that morning,
   When they murdered James Connolly, the Irish rebel.


   God`s curse on you, England, you cruel hearted monster,
   Your deeds would shame all the devils in Hell,
   There were no flowers blooming but the Shamrock is growing
   On the grave of James Connolly, the Irish rebel.


   Many years have rolled by since the Irish rebellion,
   When the guns of Brittania they loudly did speak,
   The bold I.R.A. battled shoulder to shoulder,
   as the blood of their bodies flowed down Sackville Street.


   The Four Courts of Dublin, the English bombarded,
   The spirit of freedom, they tried hard to quell
   But above all the din rose the cry "No Surrender!"
   `Twas the voice of James Connolly, the Irish Rebel.

 

JUG OF PUNCH

It being on the twenty-third of June-o 
As I sat weaving all on my loom 
I heard a thrush singing on yon bush 
And the song she sang was a jug of punch 

Ladderly fol the dee 
Ladderly fol the dee deedle eedel dum 
Dithery idle dum dithery idle deedle dum 
Dithery idle dum dithery idle deedle dum 
Dithery idle deedle eedle eedle dum dum dee 

What more pleasure could a boy desire 
Than to sit him down-o, beside the fire 
And in his hand-o a jug of punch 
Aye, and on his knee-o, a tidy wench 

What more hardships could a boy desire 
Than sit him down-o behind the door 
And in his hand-o no jug of punch 
Aye, and on his knee-o, no tidy wench 

When I am dead, all my drinking's o'er 
I'll drink one glass and I'll drink no more 
For fear I mightn't get it on that day 
I will drink it now and I'll drink away 

When I am dead and left in my mould 
At my head and feet place a flowing bowl 
And every young man that passes by 
He can have a drink and remember I 




 

JOE MCDONNELL 

O' my name is Joe McDonnell From Belfast town I came 
That city I will never see again 
For in that town of Belfast I spent many happy days 
I love that town in oh so many ways. 
For it's there I spent my childhood and found for me a wife 
And set out to make for her a life. 
But all my young ambitions met with bitterness and hate 
I soon found myself inside a prison gate. 

Cho: And so you call me a terrorist 
While you look down your gun 
When I think of all the deeds that you have done, 
You have plundered many nations 
Divided many lands 
You have terrorized their people 
You ruled with an iron hand. 
And you brought this reign of terror to my land. 

Though those many months internment in the and the Maze 
I thought about my land thoughout those days 
Why my country was divided 
Why I was now in jail 
Imprisoned without cause or without trial. 
And although I love my country 
I am not a bitter man 
I have seen cruelty and injustice first hand. 
Then one fateful morning I shook bold freedom's hand 
For right or wrong I tried to free my land. 

May God shine on you Bobby Sands for the courage you have shown 
May your glory and your fame be widely known. 
And Francis Hughs and Ray McCreesh you died unselfishly 
And Patsy O'Hara and next in line is me 
And all who lie behind me may your courage be the same 
And I pray to Gof my life is not in vain. 
Oh but sad and bitter was the year of 1981 
For everything I lost and nothing won. 


 

			 
Johnny has gone for a soldier
(also called "Shule Agra")

With fife and drum he marched away
He would not heed what I did say
He'll not come back for many a day
Johnny has gone for a soldier

Chorus:
  Shule shule shule shule agra
  Sure a sure and he loves me
  When he comes back he'll marry me
  Johnny has gone for a soldier

I'll go up on Portland hill
And there I'll sit and cry my fill
And every tear should turn a mill
Johnny has gone for a soldier

I'll sell my rock, I'll sell my reel
I'll sell my flax and spinning wheel
To buy my love a sword of steel
Johnny has gone for a soldier

I'll dye my petticoats crimson red
Through the world I'll beg my bread
I'll find my love alive or dead
Johnny has gone for a soldier

			 
 

			 

JOHNNY BE FAIR

Oh, Johnny be fair and Johnny be fine he wants me for to wed
And I would marry Johnny, but me father up and said
"I'm sorry to tell you daughter, what your mother never knew
But Johnny is a son of mine and so he's kin to you"

Oh, Willie be fair and Willie be fine he wants me for to wed
And I would marry Willie, but me father up and said
"I'm sorry to tell you daughter, what your mother never knew
But Willie too is a son of mine and so he's kin to you"

Oh, Thomas be fair and Thomas be fine he wants me for to wed
And I would marry Thomas, but me father up and said
"I'm sorry to tell you daughter, what your mother never knew
But Thomas is a son of mine and so he's kin to you"

Oh, you never saw a maid so sad and sorry as I was
The lads in town were all me kin and me father was the cause
If life should thus continue, I will die a single miss
I think I'll go to mother and complain to her of this

"Oh, daughter, haven't I told you to forgive and to forget?
Your father sowed his wild oats, but still you need not fret
Your father may be father to all the lads in town, but still
He's not the one who sired you, so marry whom you will"


 

JOHNNY I HARDLY KNEW YE

While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
While goin' the road to sweet Athy
A stick in me hand and a drop in me eye
A doleful damsel I heard cry
Johnny I hardly knew ye

With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and drums and guns
The enemy nearly slew ye
Oh my darling dear, Ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye

Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your eyes that were so mild
When my heart you so beguiled
Why did ye run from me and the child
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye

Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your legs that used to run
When you went for to carry a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye

I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
I'm happy for to see ye home
All from the island of Sulloon
So low in flesh, so high in bone
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye

Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg
Ye're an armless, boneless, chickenless egg
Ye'll have to put with a bowl out to beg
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye

They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
They're rolling out the guns again
But they never will take our sons again
No they never will take our sons again
Johnny I'm swearing to ye


 

JOLLY BEGGARMAN, THE

I am a little beggarman, a begging I have been
For three score years in this little isle of green
I'm known along the Liffey from the Basin to the Zoo
And everybody calls me by the name of Johnny Dhu

Of all the trades a going, sure the begging is the best
For when a man is tired he can sit him down and rest
He can beg for his dinner, he has nothing else to do
But to slip around the corner with his old rigadoo

I slept in a barn one night in Currabawn
A shocking wet night it was, but I slept until the dawn
There was holes in the roof and the raindrops coming thru
And the rats and the cats were a playing peek a boo

Who did I waken but the woman of the house
With her white spotted apron and her calico blouse
She began to frighten and I said boo
Sure, don't be afraid at all, it's only Johnny Dhu

I met a little girl while a walkin out one day
Good morrow little flaxen haired girl, I did say
Good morrow little beggarman and how do you do
With your rags and your tags and your auld rigadoo

I'll buy a pair of leggins and a collar and a tie
And a nice young lady I'll go courting by and by
I'll buy a pair of goggles and I'll color them with blue
And an old fashioned lady I will make her too

So all along the high road with my bag upon my back
Over the fields with my bulging heavy sack
With holes in my shoes and my toes a peeping thru
Singing, skin a ma rink a doodle with my auld rigadoo

Oh I must be going to bed for it's getting late at night
The fire is all raked and now tis out of light
For now you've heard the story of my auld rigadoo
So good and God be with you, from auld Johnny Dhu

JUST GIVE ME YOUR HAND

Just give me your hand
And I'll walk with you
Through the streets of our land
Through the mountains so grand
if you give me your hand

Just give me your hand
and come along with me
will you give me your hand
and the world it can see
that we can be free
in peace and harmony
from the north to the south
from the east to the west
every mountain
every valley
every bush and bird's nest

by day and night
through our struggle and strife
and beside you to guide you
forever my love
for love's not for one, but
for both of us to share
for our country so fair
for a world that waits there
just give me your hand

just give me your hand
for the world it is ours
for the sea and the land
to destroy or command
if you give me your hand

just give me your hand
in a gesture of peace
Will you give me your hand
and all troubles will cease
for the strong and the weak
for the rich and the poor
all peoples and creeds

let's meet their needs
with a passion
we could fashion
a new world of love

Chorus