Written c. 1861. Refers to an ‘Irish Brigade’ established by the Confederate states during the American Civil War, commanded by Irish-born Joseph Kelly, a grocer originally from St. Louis, Missouri.
AIR—O Columbia, The Gem of the Ocean.
Come all you that hold true communion with southern Confederates bold,
I will tell you of some men who for the Union in the northern ranks were enrolled;
Who came to Missouri in their glory, and thought by their power we’d be dismayed;
But we soon made them tell a different story when they met with Kelly’s Irish Brigade.
Three cheers for the Irish Brigade,
Three cheers for the Irish Brigade.
And all true-hearted Hibernians,
And in the ranks of Kelly’s Irish Brigade!
You call us rebels and traitors, but yourselves have thrown off that name of late.
You were called it by the English invaders at home in seventeen and ninety-eight.
The name to us is not a new one, though ‘tis one that never will degrade
Any true-hearted Hibernian in the ranks of Kelly’s Irish Brigade.
Three cheers for the Irish Brigade,
Three cheers for the Irish Brigade.
And all true-hearted Hibernians,
And in the ranks of Kelly’s Irish Brigade!
You dare not call us invaders, ‘tis but state rights and liberties we ask;
And Missouri, we ever will defend her, no matter how hard be the task.
Then let true Irishmen assemble; let the voice of Missouri be obeyed;
And northern fanatics may tremble when they meet with Kelly’s Irish Brigade.