Come all you young rebels, and list while I sing For the love of one's country is a terrible thing It banishes fear with the speed of a flame And it makes us all part of the patriot game My name is O'Hanlon, and I'm just gone sixteen My home is in Monaghan, where I was weaned I've learned all my life, cruel England to blame And so I'm a part of the patriot game It's barely two years since I wandered away With the local battalion of the bold IRA I'd read of our heroes, and I wanted the same To play up my part in the patriot game They told me how Connolly was shot in a chair His wounds from the battle all bleeding and bare His fine body twisted, all battered and lame They soon made him part of the patriot game This island of ours has far long been half free Six counties are under John Bull's tyranny So I gave up my boyhood to drill and to train To play my own part in the patriot game And now as I lie here, my body all holes I think of those traitors who bargained and sold I wish that my rifle had given the same To those Quislings who sold out in the patriot game