ANONYMOUS – Kevin BARRY


Kevin Barry

In Mountjoy jail one Monday morning

High upon the gallows tree,

Kevin Barry gave his young life

For the cause of liberty.

Just a lad of eighteen summers

Still there's no one can deny,

As he walked to death that morning,

He proudly held his head on high.

Shoot me like an Irish soldier.

Do not hang me like a dog,

For I fought to free old Ireland

On that still September morn.

All around the little bakery

Where we fought them hand to hand,

Shoot me like an Irish soldier,

For I fought to free Ireland

Just before he faced the hangman,

In his dreary prison cell,

British soldiers tortured Barry,

Just because he would not tell.

The names of his brave comrades,

And other things they wished to know.

Turn informer or we'll kill you

Kevin Barry answered "No".

Proudly standing to attention

While he bade his last farewell

To his broken hearted mother

Whose grief no one can tell.

For the cause he proudly cherished

This sad parting had to be

Then to death walked softly smiling

That old Ireland might be free.

Another martyr for old Ireland,

Another murder for the crown,

Whose brutal laws may kill the Irish,

But can't keep their spirit down.

Lads like Barry are no cowards.

From the foe they will not fly.

Lads like Barry will free Ireland,

For her sake they'll live and die.