Roddy McCorley --- Ethna Carberry/trad.

 

Oh [G]see the fleet-foot host of men, who [C]come with faces [G]wan,
From farmstead and from [C]fisher’s  [G]cot, along the [C]banks of [D]Ban;
They [G]come with vengeance [C]in their [G]eyes. Too late, too [C]late are [D]they,
For young [G]Roddy McCorley goes to die on the [C]Bridge of Toome to-[G]day. 

Oh [G]Ireland, Mother Ireland, you [C]love them still the [G]best,
The fearless brave who [C]fighting fall up-[G]on your [C]hapless [D]breast.
But [G]never a one of [C]all your dead more [G]bravely [C]fell in [D]fray
Than [G]he who marches to his fate on the [C]Bridge of Toome to-[G]day. 

When [G]last this narrow street he trod, his [C]shining pike in [G]hand,
Behind him marched in [C]grim ar-[G]ray, a stalwart, [C]earnest [D]band.
“To [G]Antrim town! To [C]Antrim [G]town!” He led them [C]to the [D]fray,
But young [G]Roddy McCorley goes to die on the [C]Bridge of Toome to-[G]day. 

The [G]gray coat and it’s sash of green were [C]brave and stainless [G]then,
Their banner flashed be-[C]neath the [G]sun, above the [C]marching [D]men.
The [G]coat hath many a [C]rent this [G]noon, the sash is [C]torn a-[D]way,
And young [G]Roddy McCorley goes to die on the [C]Bridge of Toome to-[G]day. 

Oh [G]how his pike flashed in the sun, then [C]found a foeman’s [G]heart,
Through furious fight and [C]heavy [G]odds he bore a [C]true man’s [D]part,
And [G]many a redcoat [C]bit the [G]dust before his [C]keen pike-[D]play.
But young [G]Roddy McCorley goes to die on the [C]Bridge of Toome to-[G]day. 

There’s [G]never a one of all your dead more [C]bravely fell in [G]fray
Than he who marches [C]to his [G]fate in Toomebridge [C]town to-[D]day.
True [G]to the last! True [C]to the [G]last! He treads the [C]upward [D]way,

And young [G]Roddy McCorley goes to die on the [C]Bridge of Toome to-[G]day.

 

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