IN NINETEEN HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN
THE FORCES OF THE CROWN
TO TAKE THE ORANGE, WHITE, AND GREEN
BOMBARDED DUBLIN TOWN.
BUT IN '21, BRITANNIA'S SONS
WERE FORCED TO EARN THEIR PAY,
AND THE BLACK AND TANS, LIKE LIGHTNING RAN
FROM THE RIFLES OF THE IRA!
THEY BURNED THEIR WAY THROUGH MUNSTER,
AND LAID LEINSTER ON THE RACK,
IN CONNAUGHT AND IN ULSTER
MARCHED THE MEN OF BROWN AND BLACK.
THEY SHOT DOWN WIVES AND CHILDREN
IN THEIR OWN HEROIC WAY!
AND THE BLACK AND TANS, LIKE LIGHTNING RAN
FROM THE RIFLES OF THE IRA! THEY HANGED YOUNG KEVIN BARRY HIGH,
A LAD OF EIGHTEEN YEARS .
CORK CITY'S FLAMES LIT UP THE SKY,
BUT OUR BRAVE BOYS KNEW NO FEAR.
THE CORK BRIGADE WITH HAND GRENADES
IN AMBUSH WAIT AND LAY.
AND THE BLACK AND TANS, LIKE LIGHTNING RAN
FROM THE RIFLES OF THE IRA!
THE TANS WERE GOT, TAKEN OUT AND SHOT
BY THE BRAVE AND VALIANT FEW.
SEAN TREACY, DINNY LACEY,
AND TOM BARRY'S GALLANT CREW.
THOUGH WE'RE NOT FREE YET,
WE WON'T FORGET UNTIL OUR DYING DAY
HOW THE BLACK AND TANS, LIKE LIGHTNING RAN
FROM THE RIFLES OF THE IRA!