Damien Dempsey Kevin Barry Lyrics

In Mountjoy jail one Monday morning
High upon the gallows tree
Kevin Barry gave his young life
For the cause of liberty

But a lad of eighteen slimmers
Still there's no one can deny
As he walked to death that morning
He proudly held his head on high

Just before he faced the hangman
In his dreary prison cell
The Black and Tans tortured Barry
Just because he wouldn't tell
The names of his brave comrades
And other things they wished to know
"Turn informer and we'll free you"
Kevin Barry answered "No"

Calmly standing to attention While he bade his last farewell
To his broken hearted mother
Whose grief no one can tell

For the cause he proudly cherished
This sad parting had to be
Then to death walked softy smiling
That old Ireland might be free

Another martyr for old Ireland
Another murder for the crown
Whose brutal laws to crush the Irish
Could not keep their spirit down

Lads like Barry are no cowards
From the foe they will nor fly
Lads like Barry will free Ireland
For her sake they'll live and die