Anthems

The Wild Rover

I've been a wild rover for many's the year I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer But now I'm returning with gold in great store And I never will play the wild rover no more

Chorus: And it's No, Nay, never, No, nay never no more Will I play the wild rover, No never no more

I went in to an alehouse I used to frequent And I told the landlady me money was spent I asked her for credit, she answered me nay Such a customer as you I can have any day

Chorus

I took up from my pocket, ten sovereigns bright And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight She says "I have whiskeys and wines of the best And the words that you told me were only in jest"

Chorus

I'll go home to my parents, confess what I've done And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son And, when they've caressed me as oft times before I never will play the wild rover no more

Chourus

The Fields of Athenry

By a lonely prison wall I heard a young girl calling Micheal they have taken you away For you stole Trevelyn's corn So the young might see the morn. Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay.

Chorus: Low lie the Fields of Athenry Where once we watched the small free birds fly. Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry.

By a lonely prison wall I heard a young man calling Nothing matters Mary when you're free, Against the Famine and the Crown I rebelled they ran me down Now you must raise our child with dignity.

Chorus

By a lonely harbor wall She watched the last star falling As that prison ship sailed out against the sky Sure she'll wait and hope and pray For her love in Botany Bay It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry.

Chorus

Rattlin' Bog

Chorus: Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog The bog down in the valley-o Ho, ro, the rattlin' bog The bog down in the valley-o And in that bog there was a tree A rare tree and a rattlin' tree And the tree in the bog And the bog down in the valley-o

Chorus

And on that tree there was a limb A rare limb and a rattlin' limb And the limb on the tree And the tree in the bog And the bog down in the valley-o

Chorus

Now on that limb there was a branch A rare branch and a rattlin' branch And the branch on the limb And the limb on the tree And the tree in the bog And the bog down in the valley-o

Chorus

Now on that branch there was a twig A rare twig and a rattlin' twig And the twig on the branch And the branch on the limb And the limb on the tree And the tree in the bog And the bog down in the valley-o

Chorus

Now on that twig there was a nest A rare nest and a rattlin' nest And the nest on the twig And the twig on the branch And the branch on the limb And the limb on the tree And the tree in the bog And the bog down in the valley-o

Chorus

Now in that nest there was an egg A rare egg and a rattlin' egg And the egg in the nest And the nest on the twig And the twig on the branch And the branch on the limb And the limb on the tree And the tree in the bog And the bog down in the valley-o

Chorus

Now in that egg there was a bird A rare bird and a rattlin' bird And the bird on the egg And the egg in the nest And the nest on the twig And the twig on the branch And the branch on the limb And the limb on the tree And the tree in the bog And the bog down in the valley-o

Chorus

Now on that bird there was a feather A rare feather and a rattlin' feather And the feather on the bird And the bird on the egg And the egg in the nest And the nest on the twig And the twig on the branch And the branch on the limb And the limb on the tree And the tree in the bog And the bog down in the valley-o

Chorus

Now on that feather there was a flea A rare flea and a rattlin' flea And the flea on the feather And the feather on the bird And the bird on the egg And the egg in the nest And the nest on the twig And the twig on the branch And the branch on the limb And the limb in the tree And the tree in the bog And the bog down in the valley-o

Come out you Black and Tans

I was born on a Dublin street where the Royal drums do beat And the loving English feet they tramped all over us, And each and every night when me father'd come home tight He'd invite the neighbors outside with this chorus:

Chorus: Oh, come out you black and tans, Come out and fight me like a man Show your wives how you won medals down in Flanders Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away, From the green and lovely lanes in Killashandra.

Come let me hear you tell How you slammed the great Pernell, When you fought them well and truly persecuted, Where are the smears and jeers That you bravely let us hear When our heroes of sixteen were executed.

Chorus

Come tell us how you slew Those brave Arabs two by two Like the Zulus they had spears and bows and arrows, How you bravely slew each one With your sixteen pounder gun And you frightened them poor natives to their marrow.

Chorus

The day is coming fast And the time is here at last, When each yeoman will be cast aside before us, And if there be a need Sure my kids wil sing, "Godspeed!" With a verse or two of Steven Beehan's chorus