A cold May morn was breaking over Dublin's dreary town
Sixteen brave men have fallen to the rifles of the Crown
Because they loved their country they served it night and day
But before they faced the rifle this is what those boys did say
Take away the blood stained bandage from off an Irish brow
We fought and bled for Ireland and we would not shirk it now
We have helped her in her struggle in an answer to her call
And because we sought to free her we are placed against a wall
Ed Daly, Heuston, Colbert, McDonagh and MacBride
McDermott and the brothers Ceannt, with Clarke and Plunkett died
Mick Mallin, Pat and Willie Pearse, O'Hanrahan and Ceannt
And the last of all James Connolly this message to them sent
Take away the blood stained bandage from off an Irish brow
We fought and bled for Ireland and we would not shirk it now
We have helped her in her struggle in an answer to her call
And because we sought to free her we are placed against a wall