Rifles of the IRA - The Davitts

In nineteen hundred and sixteen,

The Forces of the Crown,

For to Capture Orange, White and Green,

Bombarded Dublin Town,

But in twenty one, Britannia’s sons,

Began to earn their pay,

When the Black and Tans, Like lightning ran

From the rifles of the IRA

They burned their way through Munster

Laid Leinster on the rack,

Through Connaught and through Ulster,

Marched the men in brown and black,

They shot down wives and children,

In their own heroic way, when

The black and tans, like lightning ran

From the rifles of the IRA

They hung young Kevin Barry high,

A lad of eighteen years,

Cork City’s flames lit up in the sky

But our brave lads new no fear

The Cork brigade with hand-grenades

In ambush wait and lay,

And the black and tans,

Like lightning ran

From the Rifles of the I.R.A.

The tans were taken out and shot

By a brave and valiant few

Sean Treacy, Dinny Lacey

And Tom Barry’s famous crew

We’re not free yet but we won’t forget

Until our dying day,

When the black and tans,

Like lightning ran

From the Rifles of the I.R.A.

We’re not free yet we won’t forget

Until our dying day,

When the black and tans,

Like lightning ran

From the Rifles of the I.R.A.