[Chorus]
It's time to free the lifers
In Long Kesh and in Portlaoise,
Across the swell in English cells,
Oh, call for their release.

[Verse]
Well some of them have been there
For nearly twenty years,
Away from homes an loved ones
And all that they hold dear.

And the crimes for which they're serving,
Sure they were not crimes at all,
They saw their land in bondage,
They answered Ireland's call.

Oh, God it is a bitter thing ,
To watch the years drag by,
They've sacrificed for Ireland's cause
The best years of their lives

[Chorus]
Oh, it's time to free the lifers
In Long Kesh and in Portlaoise,
Across the swell in English cells,
Oh, call for their release.

[Verse]
There's some of them from Belfast,
Armagh, Derry and Tyrone,
From Newry and Bellaghy,
Oh, don't let them stand alone.

And some from across the border,
From Cork to Donegal,
From Monaghan and Dublin,
Oh, it's time to free them all.

And don't forget about those young folk,
They call SOS peace,
Oh, it must be hell to lie in cells,
Not knowing when you'll be free

[Chorus]
Oh, it's time to free the lifers
In Long Kesh and in Portlaoise,
Across the swell in English cells,
Oh, call for their release.

[Verse]
So, come all you politicians,
And statesmen of this land,
Who claim to seek and answer,
Well, it's time you made a stand.

Oh, it's no use having peace talks,
While men and women rot in jail,
Until you talk of amnesty,
All talks are doomed to fail.

For the day this war is over,
It's the day we long to see,
But they'll be no peace in Ireland,
Till our prisoners are free.

[Chorus]
Oh, it's time to free the lifers
In Long Kesh and in Portlaoise,
Across the swell in English cells,
Oh, call for their release.

[Chorus]
Oh, it's time to free the lifers
In Long Kesh and in Portlaoise,
Across the swell in English cells,
Oh, call for their release.

[Chorus]
Oh, it's time to free the lifers
In Long Kesh and in Portlaoise,
Across the swell in English cells,
Oh, call for their release.