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,
And there's nobody can deny,
As he walked to death that morning,
He proudly held his head on high.

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

Calmly standing to attention,
As he bade his last farewell,
To his broken hearted mother,
Whose sad grief no one could 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,
Your brutal laws may kill the Irish,
But they'll not bring our spirits down,
Lads like Barry they are no coward,
From the foe they will not fly,
Lads like Barry will free Ireland,
For Ireland's sake they live and die.