[Verse]
There's a uniform that's hanging in what's known as father's room,
A uniform so simple in its style,
It's got no braid of gold or silk or hat with feathered plume,
Me mother has preserved it all the while.

One day she made me try it on, a wish of mine for years,
"In memory of your father, son", she said,
And when she placed the Sam Browne on, she was smiling through her tears,
She placed the broad black brimmer on me head.

[Chorus]
It's just a broad black brimmer, it's ribbons frayed and torn,
By the careless whisk of manys a mountain breeze,
An old trench coat that's so battle-stained and worn,
Breeches almost threadbare at the knees.

A Sam Browne belt with a buckle big and strong,
A holster that's been empty manys a days, (But not for long!)
When men claim Ireland's freedom, oh, the ones they choose to lead them,
Will wear the broad black brimmer of the IRA.

[Verse]
It's the uniform being worn by me father long ago,
He left me mother's homestead on the run,
It's the uniform he wore in that little church below,
Old Father Mac, he blessed the pair as one.

And after truce and treaty and the parting of the ways,
He wore it when he walked out with the rest, (And the best!)
And when they laid his body down the rugged heather braes,
They placed the broad black brimmer on his chest.

[Chorus]
It's just a broad black brimmer, it's ribbons frayed and torn,
By the careless whisk of manys a mountain breeze,
An old trench coat that's so battle-stained and worn,
Breeches almost threadbare at the knees.

A Sam Browne belt with a buckle big and strong,
A holster that's been empty manys a days, (But not for long!)
When men claim Ireland's freedom, oh, the ones they choose to lead them,
Will wear the broad black brimmer of the IRA.

[Chorus]
It's just a broad black brimmer, it's ribbons frayed and torn,
The careless whisk of manys a mountain breeze,
An old trench coat that's so battle-stained and worn,
Breeches almost threadbare at the knees.

A Sam Browne belt with a buckle big and strong,
A holster that's been empty manys a days, (But not for long!)
When men claim Ireland's freedom, oh, the ones they choose to lead them,
Will wear the broad black brimmer of the IRA,
Will wear the broad black brimmer of the IRA.