The Wolfe Tones - Michael Collins

Come listen, all me true men
To my simple rhyme
For it tells of a young man
Cut off in his prime
A soldier and a statesman who
Laid 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 volunteer's call he
Could not disobey
So he came back to Dublin to join in the fray

At Easter 1916 when Pearse called them out
The men from the Dublin battalion roved out
And in the Post Office they nobly did show
How a handful of heroes
Could outfight the foe

To Stafford and jails transported they were
As prisoners of England they soon made a stir
Released before Christmas and home once again
He branded old comrades together to train

Dáil Éireann assembled our rights to proclaim
Suppressed by the English you'd
Think it a shame
How Ireland's best and bravest
Were harried and torn
From the arms of their loved
Ones and children newborn

At Easter 1916 when Pearse called them out
The men from the Dublin battalion roved 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 and brother they
Never should turn?
Alas that a split in our ranks 'ere we saw
Mick Collins stretched lifeless in
Lone Béal na Bláth

At Easter 1916 when Pearse called them out
The men from the Dublin battalion roved 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 a new leader
To match the man slain
A true son of Gráinne
His name long will shine
Oh, gallant Mick Collins
Cut off in his prime

At Easter 1916 when Pearse called them out
The men from the Dublin battalion roved out
And in the Post Office they nobly did show
How a handful of heroes
Could outfight the foe

Written by:
Jonathan Owen, Peter Hobbs

Publisher:
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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