Rifles Of The Ira

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In nineteen hundred and sixteen,
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The Forces of the Crown,
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To Capture Orange, White and Green,
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Bombarded Dublin Town,
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But in twenty one, Britannia's huns,
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Were forced to earn their pay,

When the Black and Tans, like lightning ran
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From the rifles of the IRA

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They burned their way through Munster
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and laid Leinster on the rack,
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Through Connaught and in Ulster,
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Marched the men in brown and black,
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They shot down wives and child-er-en,
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In their own heroic way,

And the Black and Tans, like lightning ran
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From the rifles of the IRA

They hanged young Kevin Barry high,
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A lad of eighteen years,
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Cork City’s flames lit up the sky,
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But our brave boys knew no fear.
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The Cork Brigade with hand grenade
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In ambush waiting lay,

And the Black and Tans, like lightning ran
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From the rifles of the IRA

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The tans were got, taken out and shot
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By the brave and the valiant few,
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Sean Treacy, Denny, Lacey,
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And Tom Barry’s gallant crew,
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Though we’re not free yet, we won’t forget
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Until our dying day

How the Black and Tans, like lightning ran
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From the rifles of the IRA