In Mountjoy Jail, one Monday morning,
High upon the gallow tree,
Kevin Barry gave his young life,
For the cause of liberty,
Just a lad of eighteen summers,
Yet nobody can deny,
As he walked to death that morning,
He proudly held his head up high.

And just before he faced the hangman,
In his dreary prison cell,
British soldiers tortured Barry,
Just because he would not tell,
The names of his brave companions,
And other things they wished to know,
"Turn informer or we'll kill you!"
Kevin Barry answered "No!"

Calmly standing to attention,
While he bade his last farewell,
To his broken hearted mother,
Whose sad grief no one can tell,
For the cause he proudly cherished,
This sad parting had to be,
Then to death walked softly smiling,
That old Ireland might be free.

Another martyr for old Ireland,
Another murder for the Crown,
Whose brutal laws might kill the Irish,
But cannot keep our spirits down,
Lads like Barry are no cowards,
From the foe they will not fly,
Lads like Barry will free Ireland,
For the cause they'll fight and die.

Lads like Barry will free Ireland,
For her cause they'll fight and die.