In the cold grey light of morning
After the deal had gone down
I awoke and shook all over
Hoping a dram would bring me round
Well I stared at the sight all around me
Dusted blue and faded grey
Men in heaps were scattered
Men who fought and died the other day
Well I lived my youth in Connemara
Roving from town to town
I shipped on board of the Amelia
To New York City I was bound
Not for honour, nor for country
We kill for three square meals a day
Off the boat and pack on shoulder
Gun in hand, we're here to stay
At Fredericksburg we rose to meet them
Though we knew the price we'd pay
But the Irish Brigade will not surrender
Faugh a Ballagh! Clear the way!
General Meagher he gave the order
Up we rise boys, charge away
The hills were rife with blood and murder
As we gouged and tore our way
McMillan's rebels they fired upon us
Shot and shell, buck and ball
Their green flag rose high above them
As ours fell on the battle wall
At Fredericksburg we rose to meet them
Though we knew the price we'd pay
But the Irish Brigade will not surrender
Faugh a Ballagh! Clear the way!
Well hand to hand, and face to face there
A young rebel he charged me in the fray
I turned around and my blade went through him
I did the devil's work that day
For I saw my face there before me
In the boy that I hewed down
He could have been a friend or a brother
Another exile from my town
Three thousand strong rose to fight them
In Antietam's ripening corn
But Fredericksburg was our undoing
Three hundred left to weep and mourn
At Fredericksburg we rose to meet them
Though we knew the price we'd pay
But the Irish Brigade will not surrender
Faugh a Ballagh! Clear the way!
At Fredericksburg we rose to meet them
Though we knew the price we'd pay
But the Irish Brigade will not surrender
Faugh a Ballagh! Clear the way!
Faugh a Ballagh! Clear the way!