Roddy McCorley

[Verse 1]
Oh, see the fleet-foot hosts of men who speed with faces wan
From farmstead and from thresher's cot along the banks of Ban
They come with vengeance in their eyes; too late, too late are they
For young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today

[Verse 2]
Oh Ireland, Mother Ireland, you love them still the best
The fearless brave who fighting fall upon your hapless breast
But never a one of all your dead more bravely fell in fray
Than he who marches to his fate on the bridge of Toome today

[Verse 3]
Up the narrow street he stepped, so smiling, proud and young
About the hemp-rope on his neck, the golden ringlets clung;
There's ne'er a tear in his blue eyes, fearless and brave are they
As young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today

[Verse 4]
When last this narrow street he trod, his shining pike in hand
Behind him marched, in grim array, a earnest stalwart band
To Antrim town! To Antrim town, he led them to the fray
But young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today

[Verse 5]
The grey coat and its sash of green were brave and stainless then
A banner flashed beneath the sun over the marching men;
The coat hath many a rent this noon, the sash is torn away
And Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today

[Verse 6]
Oh, how his pike flashed in the sun! Then found a foeman's heart
Through furious fight, and heavy odds he bore a true man's part
And many a red-coat bit the dust before his keen pike-play
But Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today

[Verse 7]
There's never a one of all your dead more bravely died in fray
Than he who marches to his fate in Toomebridge town today;
True to the last! True to the last, he treads the upwards way
And young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today