[Verse]
It's about these brave young Kildare men the story I'll relate,
One from Tipperary in the Curragh met his fate,
On the nineth day of December in the year of '22,
These brave young men were shot down in Glasshouse on public view.

[Chorus]
They were shot down by their own, they were shot down by their own,
They were rebels, they were heroes, they were shot down by their own,
They were shot down by their own, they were shot down by their own,
They were rebels, they were heroes, they were shot down by their own.

[Verse]
They were part of a column, the bravest Kildare seen,
Who fought for a Republic and the wearing of the green,
The fought against the English and against the Black and Tans,
They fought the bloody Blueshirts in Kildare they made a stand.

[Chorus]
They were shot down by their own, they were shot down by their own,
They were rebels, they were heroes, they were shot down by their own,
They were shot down by their own, they were shot down by their own,
Rebels and heroes, shot down by their own.

[Verse]
They were found in the ditches and along the railway line,
For the freedom of old Ireland, they would bide their time,
They were found out near Rathbride and along the Kildare track,
To fight the Free Staters, to win their country back.

[Chorus]
They were shot down by their own, they were shot down by their own,
They were rebels, they were heroes, they were shot down by their own,
They were shot down by their own, they were shot down by their own,
They were rebels, they were heroes, they were shot down by their own.

[Verse]
It was early there one morning, what time we cannot tell,
Free Staters made their way to Father Moore's well,
They ambushed this fine column, near the Curragh plain,
Tomas Behan died there first and no one could explain.

[Chorus]
They were shot down by their own, they were shot down by their own,
They were rebels, they were heroes, they were shot down by their own,
They were shot down by their own, they were shot down by their own,
Rebels and heroes, shot down by their own.

[Verse]
They were taken to the Glasshouse and there on public view,
Free Staters loaded weapons an everybody knew,
They'd shoot dead heroes, who were Irish to the core,
All they wanted was freedom and to live in peace once more.

[Chorus]
They were shot down by their own, they were shot down by their own,
They were rebels, they were heroes, they were shot down by their own,
They were shot down by their own, they were shot down by their own,
They were rebels, they were heroes, they were shot down by their own.

[Verse]
Well the Civil War in Ireland was caused by England,
Turned brother against brother in this green and pleasant lands,
Well the Brits wanted partition and many more would die,
We still await our freedom, now the years have rolled on by.

[Chorus]
They were shot down by their own, they were shot down by their own,
They were rebels, they were heroes, they were shot down by their own,
They were shot down by their own, they were shot down by their own,
They were rebels, they were heroes, they were shot down by their own.

[Chorus]
They were shot down by their own, they were shot down by their own,
They were rebels, they were heroes, they were shot down by their own,
They were shot down by their own, they were shot down by their own,
Rebels and heroes, shot down by their own.