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 no one can deny,
As he marched 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,
The names of his companions,
And other things they'd wished to know,
"Turn informer and we'll free you!"
Barry proudly answered "No!"

Another martyr for old Ireland,
Another murder for the Crown,
Whose cruel laws may kill the Irish,
But cannot keep their spirits down,
Lads like Barry are no cowards,
From the foe they will not fly,
Lads like Barry will free Ireland,
For the cause they'll fight and die.

Lads like Barry will free Ireland,
For the cause they'll fight and die.