The Patriot Game

Billy Behen 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