The Irish Rapparees

Righ Shemus he has gone to France, and left his crown behind ;
Ill luck be theirs, both day and night, put running in his mind !
Lord Lucan followed after, with his Slashers brave and true,
And now the doleful keen is raised — " What will poor Ireland do ?

" What must poor Ireland do ?
Our luck," they say, " has gone to France — what can poor
Ireland do ? "
O never fear for Ireland, for she has soldiers still ;
For Rory's boys are in the wood, and Remy's on the hill ;
And never had poor Ireland more loyal hearts than these —
May God be kind and good to them, the faithful Rapparees !

The fearless Rapparees !
The jewel were you, Rory, with your Irish Rapparees !
O black's your heart, Clan Oliver, and colder than the clay !
O high's your head, Clan Sassenach, since Sarsfield's gone away !
It's little love you bear to us, for sake of long ago ;
But hold your hand, for Ireland still can strike a deadly blow —
Can strike a mortal blow —
Och, duar-na-Criosd ! 'tis she that still could strike a deadly blow !

The Master's bawn, the Master's seat, a surly bodach fills ;
The Master's son, an outlawed man, is riding on the hills.
But God be praised that round him throng, as thick as summer bees,
The swords that guarded Limerick wall — his loyal Rapparees!

His loving Rapparees !
Who dare say no to Rory Oge, with all his Rapparees ?
Black Billy Grimes of Latnamard, he racked us long and sore —
God rest the faithful hearts he broke ! — we'll never see them more !

But I'll go bail he'll break no more, while Truagh has gallows-trees ;
For why ? — he met, one lonely night, the fearless Rapparees !
The angry Rapparees !
They never sin no more, my boys, who cross the Rapparees !

Now, Sassenach and Cromweller, take heed of what I say —
Keep down your black and angry looks, that scorn us night and day :
For there's a just and wrathful Judge, that every action sees,
And He'll make strong, to right our wrong, the faithful
Rapparees !

The fearless Rapparees !
The men that rode at Sarsfield's side, the roving Rapparees !