In Mountjoy Jail, one Monday morning,
High upon the gallows tree,
Kevin Barry gave his young life,
For the cause of liberty,
Just a lad of eighteen summers,
Yet there's no one can deny,
As he walked to death that morning,
He proudly held his head up high.

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

Another martyr for old Ireland,
Another murder for the Crown,
Whose brutal laws may kill the Irish,
But can't keep their spirits down,
Lads like Barry are no cowards,
From the foe they will not fly,
Lads like Barry will free Ireland,
For her sake they live and die.