In Dublin town in 1916 a
Flame of freedom did arise
A group of men with determination
Caught an empire by surprise
Through the streets our men were marching
They rallied with their hopes and fears
And the Enda boys came searching
For their leader Padraig Pearse

The poet and the Irish rebel
A Gaelic scholar and a visionary
We gave to him no fitting tribute
When Ireland's at peace only that can be
When Ireland's a nation, united and free

On Easter morn' he faced the nation
From the steps of the GPO
And read aloud the proclamation
The seed of nationhood to sow
But soon the word had spread to London
Of an insurrection there at hand
And the deeds of Padraic Pearse was
Set about to free his land

The poet and the Irish rebel
A Gaelic scholar and a visionary
We gave to him no fitting tribute
When Ireland's at peace only that can be
When Ireland's a nation, united and free

For five long days the battle rages
For five long nights the battle wore
We'll watch as Dublin City blazes
And see our men fall to the floor
Now Ireland's proud of her effort
For her cause we fought with pride
But to save more life and to save our city
"We'll make our peace", Mac Piarais cried

The poet and the Irish rebel
A Gaelic scholar and a visionary
We gave to him no fitting tribute
When Ireland's at peace only that can be
When Ireland a nation, united and free

Kilmainham Gaol in 1916
They brought young Pearse to his death cell
And they had tried him as a traitor
To shoot this man who dared to rebel
He only tried to free his country
Of the shackles of 800 years
As dawn did break on that May morning
They shot our Leader Padraic Pearse

The poet and the Irish rebel
A Gaelic scholar and a visionary
We gave to him no fitting tribute
When Ireland's at peace only that can be
When Ireland's a nation, united and free

Copyright: BARDIS MUSIC, USA ATTN: PETER BARDON
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