Bogside Volunteers

Unknown

Oh gather round me bonny boys and a story i will tell

About the 'Battle of Bogside' i'm sure you know it well

It was on the 12th of August in the summer of the year

When proudly I enlisted in the Bogside volunteers

When proudly I enlisted in the Bogside volunteers.

I was standing at the corner with McGinley and O'Toole

I hadn't had a job you know since ever I left school

For jobs are scarce in Derry town for many a long till year

So I was ripe material for the Bogside volunteers

So I was ripe material for the Bogside volunteers.

Well Paddy Murphy came to us excited I could tell

He said the police have broken through they're going to give us hell

But the boys are building barricades and Ill tell you what I hear

Theyre looking for recruits today in the Bogside volunteers

Theyre looking for recruits today in the Bogside volunteers.

When we got to the firing line, the fire was thick and fast

And there we found the volunteers determined to the last

None of them ran for shelter and none of them cringed for fear

For here was the boys who feared no noise the Bogside volunteers

For here was the boys who feared no noise the Bogside volunteers.

The police were firing tear gas shells they scattered all around

They said they had sufficient men to beat us to the ground

But we replied with petrol bombs and filled their hearts with fear

For they met their match in the Derrymen and the Bogside volunteers

For they met their match in the Derrymen and the Bogside volunteers.

We drove the police before them then like chapping for the wind

The air was thick with stones and bricks and it made an awful din

And every time the police withdrew the boys sent up a cheer

For civil rights and freedom and the Bogside Volunteers

For civil rights and freedom and the Bogside Volunteers.

Well now me story's ended and me pen I will leave down

But don't forget the 3 days fight in dear old Derry town

And when you see freedom's page about the Easter year

Just spare a thought for those other lads the Bogside volunteers

Just spare athought for those other lads the Bogside volunteers.