[Verse]
A cold May morning was breaking over Dublin's dreary town,
Sixteen brave men have fallen, to the rifles of the Crown,
Because they'd loved their country and served her night and day,
But before they faced the rifles, this is what those boys did say.

[Chorus]
Take away the blood stained bandage from off an Irish brow,
We fought and bled for Ireland and we will not shirk her now,
We have held her in her struggle, in answer to her call,
And because we sought to free her we are placed against the wall.

[Verse]
Ned Daly, Heuston, Colbert, MacDonagh and MacBride,
MacDermott and the brothers Kent with Clarke and Plunkett died,
Mick Mallin, Pat and Willie Pearse, O'Hanrahan and Ceannt,
And the last of all James Connolly this message to them sent.

[Chorus]
Take away the blood stained bandage from off an Irish brow,
We fought and bled for Ireland and we will not shirk her now,
We have held her in her struggle, in answer to her call,
And because we sought to free her we are placed against the wall.

[Chorus]
Take away the blood stained bandage from off an Irish brow,
We fought and bled for Ireland and we will not shirk her now,
We have held her in her struggle, in answer to her call,
And because we sought to free her we are placed against the wall,
And because we sought to free her we are placed against the wall.