Mick Collins by The Wolfe Tones Lyrics
Come listen, all me true men, to my simple rhyme
For it tells of a young man put off in his prime
A soldier and a statesman who layed down the law
And to die by the roadside in lone Béal na Bláth
When barely sixteen, to England crossed o'er
For to work as a boy in a government store
But the volunteers' call he could not disobey
So he came back to Dublin to join in the fray
(Chorus)
At Easter 1916 when Pearse called them out
The men from the Dublin battalion rode out
And in the Post Office they nobly did show
How a handful of heroes could outfight the foe
To Stafford and gaols transported they were
As prisoners of England they soon made a stir
Released before Christmas and home once again
Rebranded old comrades together to train
Dáíl Éireann assembled our rights to proclaim
Suppressed by the English, you'd think it a shame
Oh, Ireland's best and bravest were harried and torn
From the arms of their loved ones and children newborn
(Chorus)
At Easter 1916 when Pearse called them out
The men from the Dublin battalion rode out
And in the Post Office they nobly did show
How a handful of heroes could outfight the foe
For years, Mick eluded their soldiers and spies
For he was the master of clever disguise
With the Custom House blazing, she found 'twas no use
And soon Mother England had asked for a truce
Oh, when will the young men a sad lesson spurn
That brother on brother they never should turn
Alas, that a split in our ranks here we saw
Mick Collins stretched lifeless in lone Béal na Bláth
(Chorus)
At Easter 1916 when Pearse called them out
The men from the Dublin battalion rode out
And in the Post Office they nobly did show
How a handful of heroes could outfight the foe
Oh, long will old Ireland be seeking in vain
Ere we find our new leader to match the man slain
A true son of Gráinne, his name long will shine
Oh, gallant Mike Collins, cut off in his prime
(Chorus)
At Easter 1916 when Pearse called them out
The men from the Dublin battalion rode out
And in the Post Office they nobly did show
How a handful of heroes could outfight the foe
For it tells of a young man put off in his prime
A soldier and a statesman who layed down the law
And to die by the roadside in lone Béal na Bláth
When barely sixteen, to England crossed o'er
For to work as a boy in a government store
But the volunteers' call he could not disobey
So he came back to Dublin to join in the fray
(Chorus)
At Easter 1916 when Pearse called them out
The men from the Dublin battalion rode out
And in the Post Office they nobly did show
How a handful of heroes could outfight the foe
To Stafford and gaols transported they were
As prisoners of England they soon made a stir
Released before Christmas and home once again
Rebranded old comrades together to train
Dáíl Éireann assembled our rights to proclaim
Suppressed by the English, you'd think it a shame
Oh, Ireland's best and bravest were harried and torn
From the arms of their loved ones and children newborn
(Chorus)
At Easter 1916 when Pearse called them out
The men from the Dublin battalion rode out
And in the Post Office they nobly did show
How a handful of heroes could outfight the foe
For years, Mick eluded their soldiers and spies
For he was the master of clever disguise
With the Custom House blazing, she found 'twas no use
And soon Mother England had asked for a truce
Oh, when will the young men a sad lesson spurn
That brother on brother they never should turn
Alas, that a split in our ranks here we saw
Mick Collins stretched lifeless in lone Béal na Bláth
(Chorus)
At Easter 1916 when Pearse called them out
The men from the Dublin battalion rode out
And in the Post Office they nobly did show
How a handful of heroes could outfight the foe
Oh, long will old Ireland be seeking in vain
Ere we find our new leader to match the man slain
A true son of Gráinne, his name long will shine
Oh, gallant Mike Collins, cut off in his prime
(Chorus)
At Easter 1916 when Pearse called them out
The men from the Dublin battalion rode out
And in the Post Office they nobly did show
How a handful of heroes could outfight the foe