famous Irish regiments & irish military history

The Irish Soldier Boy

Across the sea so wide and blue, We fought in foreign lands, To feed the mouths the landlord's starved My child upon her hands. So beat the drums and play the pipes O' Rahilly began to cry, In India, Afghanistan, for I am sure to die. Unfold the colours to the sky, For we will neverr break And see our courage flow with blood, To honour Ireland's sake. So beat the drums and play the pipes O' Rahilly began to cry, In India, Afghanistan, for I am sure to die. From temples gold, and mountains white We marched unto our fate, And sang the songs of Tavern larks To storm the Delhi Gate. So beat the drums and play the pipes O' Rahilly began to cry, In India, Afghanistan, for I am sure to die. In foreign lands with foreign tongues Oh how we fought so brave, To see the boys with bravest hearts For the Regiment they gave. So beat the drums and play the pipes O' Rahilly began to cry, In India, Afghanistan, for I am sure to die. And so we sailed, and gladly cried For we were always willing To fight his wars, and win the pay A King who gave his shilling. So beat the drums and play the pipes O' Rahilly began to cry, In India, Afghanistan, for I am sure to die. Remember this upon my word That we will not retire, With ' Irish Hearts ' and ' Irish Blood ' We won the British Empire. So beat the drums and play the pipes O' Rahilly began to cry, In India, Afghanistan, for I am sure to die. And to old Eiren I did return And saw my butchered nation, I saw the children laying dead Their souls beyond Salvation So beat the drums and play the pipes O' Rahilly began to cry, In India, Afghanistan, for I am sure to die. And what of the ' Sepoy Soldiers ' now ? Who drink and tell their story, Of far off lands and marching bands, For the Empire and it's Glory. So beat the drums and play the pipes O' Rahilly began to cry, In India, Afghanistan, for I am sure to die. No more for foreign fields i beg For I shall bare no pain, For the drums they beat, and the pipes they play, And my loved ones are all ' Slain ' So beat the drums and play the pipes O' Rahilly began to cry, In India, Afghanistan, for I am sure to die.