In Sackville Street the curfew drove the restless inside,

The Black and Tans marched up and down, the moon shone cold and bright,

The shot was like a whip crack pulled the first man off his feet,

He died on bloody cobblestones while his comrades combed the street.

They called up reinforcements, woke the people from their beds,

They were screaming "Get the bastard!", but its  fear was in their heads,

They found him in a cellar, he was only seventeen,

Fighting for his country: Dying for the green.

The sergeant dragged him by the hair and beat him to the ground,

Into this young mans body he emptied every round,

"Come out and take a look", he cried as he marched his troops away,

They went in stony silence such a prize to have today!

Some knelt and prayed beside him, ah but its too late anyhow,

They said he was a rebel then and hes a hero now,

 

In '66 this country sang the praises of the dead,

We didnt call them rebels then we used patriot instead,

On every household TV screen we saw how hard they fought,

How they spilled their lifes blood and how freedom had been bought.

The garden gates were opened up to silent motorcades,

Cannons boomed and flags unfurled and solemn wreaths were laid,

Prayers for those departed were called for loud and clear,

For those who had been outlawed ah but that was another year

The veterans stood up stiff and proud, their white hair ruled the wind,

With their pride __________ and thoughts upon their friends,

And bitter wounds burst open, the scars of history,

Went flying into our faces in stark reality,

Just up the road from Sackville Street ah but things are different now,

They said he was a rebel then but hes a hero now.

 

Along the Falls Road soldiers push - their glances left and right,

Kids of the English working class soldiers overnight,

Tossed into the melting pot of bloody war and strife,

Never understanding and fearing for their lives.

Outside the Glenn Road Brewery a bomb takes two away,

The bombers work is over; hes finished for the day,

The terrorist or the dreamer: the savage or the brave?

It depends who ________ try to catch, his face shown trying to save.

Theres tea and cakes in Downing Street, theres whispers in the halls,

Lets move to cure Rhodesia now our backs are to the wall.

Theres panic down in Leinster House where words are seldom scarce,

Send someone to Glasnevin quick to remember Padraig Pearse!

Once more His crucifixion, it seems a lie somehow

They said he was a rebel then but hes a hero now

Once more His crucifixion, it seems a lie somehow

They said he was a rebel then but hes a hero now

But hes a hero now.