Tommy Makem The Patriot Game
Come all you young rebels and list while we sing for the
love of one's country is a terrible thing.
It banishes fear with the speed of a flame and it makes
us all part of the patriot game.
My name is O'Hannon and I've just gone sixteen. My home
is in Monaghan where I was weaned.
I've learned all my life cruel England's to blame and so
I'm a part of the patriot game.
It's barely two years since they wandered away and it was
with the local battalion of the bold IRA
For they'd read of our heroes and they wanted the same to
play their own part in the patriot game.
This Ireland of ours has for long been half-free. Six
counties are under John Bull's tyranny.
So, we gave up our boyhood to drill and to train and play
our own part in the patriot game.
And now as I lie here, my body all holes, I think of
those traitors who bargained in souls.
I wish that my rifle had given the same to those
Quislings who sold out the patriot game.
