Patriot Game song

[betgo]

About young man from the Republic of Ireland killed in Northern Ireland. This song is pretty famous, and in an ironic way it points out some of the pointlessness of war. De Valera was one of the few leaders of the Irish Rebellion of 1916 to survive, because he was an American citizen (and half Cuban), and he was a leader of the Irish Free State. Connolly was another leader of that rebellion who was shot while too badly wounded to stand up.

Come all ye young rebels, and list while I 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'Hanlon, and I've just turned sixteen.
My home is in Monaghan, and where I was weaned
I learned all my life cruel England's to blame,
So now I am part of the patriot game.

This Ireland of ours has too long been half free.
Six counties lie under John Bull's tyranny.
But still De Valera is greatly to blame
For shirking his part in the Patriot game.

They told me how Connolly was shot in his chair,
His wounds from the fighting all bloody and bare.
His fine body twisted, all battered and lame
They soon made me part of the patriot game.

It's nearly two years since I wandered away
With the local battalion of the bold IRA,
For I read of our heroes, and wanted the same
To play out my part in the patriot game.

I don't mind a bit if I shoot down police
They are lackeys for war never guardians of peace
And yet at deserters I'm never let aim
The rebels who sold out the patriot game

And now as I lie here, my body all cold
I think of those traitors who barteered and sold
And I wish that my rifle had given the same
To those traitors who sold out the patriot game.