In 1916, in the year of our Lord
Fighting came to Ireland like it never had before
For freedom comes to those who fight for its day
So I picked up my rifle and joined the IRA

My great grandfather once said to his son
The brits will leave before this year is done
This war will soon be in the past
and Ireland will be free at last
Cause it won't be long until we've won
That's what my great grandfather said to his son

A free and united Ireland was our only desire
And the best of the British Army couldn't put out that fire
But a deal with the devil was soon put forth
Freedom for the South and nothing for the North

Well, this didn't seem really right with me
For Ireland is one from sea to sea
And the IRA said our job's not done
So off to the North I went with my gun

My grandfather once said to his son
The brits will leave before this year is done
This war will soon be in the past
and the North will be free at last
Cause it won't be long until we've won
That's what my grandfather said to his son

We fought in the fields, we fought in the streets
And the English knew we couldn't be beat
We fought with rifles, we fought with rocks
And sent many a soldier home in a box

The fight has been long and many have fell
And we weep for the rebels who starved alone in a cell
For the price of our freedom is paid with blood
of those IRA men who have died in the mud

My father once said to me
All of Ireland will soon be free
These troubles will be in the past
and the North will be free at last
Cause it won't be long until we've won
That's what my father said to his son

Is life so sweet or is peace so dear?
That the weight of chains are easy to bear
For freedom comes to those who fight for its day
So pick up your rifle and join the IRA

Now I am a father and I have a son
The brits are still here, they haven't gone
And Ireland bleeds every year
For in the North there is death and fear
Until it's free, I'll keep my gun
That's what I'm going to tell my son