[Verse]
At Easter time, 1916,
When flowers bloomed and leaves were green,
There dawned a day when freedom's cry,
Called our brave men come fight and die.
[Chorus]
And they were the men with a vision, the men with a cause,
The men who defied their oppressor's laws,
The men who traded their chains for guns,
Born into slavery, they were freedom's sons.
[Verse]
In Dublin town, they fought and died,
With Pearse, MacDermott and MacBride,
"Ourselves alone!", their battle cry,
And freedom rang on the Easter sky.
[Chorus]
And they were the men with a vision, the men with a cause,
The men who defied their oppressor's laws,
The men who traded their chains for guns,
Born into slavery, they were freedom's sons.
[Verse]
A poet's dream it sparked that flame,
And a raging fire, it soon became,
And from that fire of destiny,
There rose a nation, proud and free.
[Chorus]
And they were the men with a vision, the men with a cause,
The men who defied their oppressor's laws,
The men who traded their chains for guns,
Born into slavery, they were freedom's sons.
[Verse]
Six counties are in bondage still,
They died brave men, is this their will?
Until we're free and oppressions cease,
Only then brave men can rest in peace.
[Chorus]
They were the men with a vision, the men with a cause,
The men who defied their oppressor's laws,
The men who traded their chains for guns,
Born into slavery, they were freedom's sons,
Born into slavery, they were freedom's sons.