From the ’98 Song Book, published for the 1798 centenary commemorations.
(This song to a traditional air, has been popular in Ulster since the days of the United Irishmen).
CHEER UP, brave hearts, to-morrow’s dawn will see us march again
Beneath old Erin’s flag of green that ne’er has known a stain.
And ere our hands the swords shall yield or furled that banner be –
We swear to make our native land from the tyrant’s thraldom free!
For Tone is coming back again with legions o’er the wave,
The scions of Lord Clare’s Brigade, the dear old land to save,
For Tone is coming back again with legions o’er the wave
The dear old land, the loved old land, the brave old land to save!
Though crouching minions preach to us to be the Saxon’s slave,
We’ll teach them all what pikes can do when hearts are true and brave.
Fling Freedom’s banner to the breeze, let it float o’er land and sea –
We swear to make our native land from the tyrant’s thraldom free!
For Tone is coming back again with legions o’er the wave,
The scions of Lord Clare’s Brigade, the dear old land to save,
For Tone is coming back again with legions o’er the wave
The dear old land, the loved old land, the brave old land to save!
Young Dwyer ‘mong the heath-clad hills of Wicklow leads his men;
And Russell’s voice stirs kindred hearts in many an Ulster glen;
Brave Father Murphy’s men march on from the Barrow to the sea –
We swear to make our native land from the tyrant’s thraldom free!
For Tone is coming back again with legions o’er the wave,
The scions of Lord Clare’s Brigade, the dear old land to save,
For Tone is coming back again with legions o’er the wave
The dear old land, the loved old land, the brave old land to save!
Too long we’ve borne with smouldering wrath the cursed alien laws,
That wreck our shrines and burn our homes and crush our country’s cause;
But now the day has come at last: Revenge our watchword be!
We swear to make our native land from the tyrant’s thraldom free!