Come all ye young rebels, and list while I sing, 
For the love of one's country is a terrible thing. 
It banishes fear with the speed of a flame, 
And it makes us all part of the patriot game. 

My name is O'Hanlon, and I've just turned sixteen. 
My home is in Monaghan, and where I was weaned 
I learned all my life cruel England's to blame, 
So now I am part of the patriot game. 

This Ireland of ours has too long been half free. 
Six counties lie under John Bull's tyranny. 
But still De Valera is greatly to blame 
For shirking his part in the Patriot game. 

They told me how Connolly was shot in his chair, 
His wounds from the fighting all bloody and bare. 
His fine body twisted, all battered and lame 
They soon made me part of the patriot game. 

It's nearly two years since I wandered away 
With the local battalion of the bold IRA, 
For I read of our heroes, and wanted the same 
To play out my part in the patriot game. 

[extra verse I found]
I don't mind a bit if I shoot down police
They are lackeys for war never guardians of peace
And yet at deserters I'm never let aim
The rebels who sold out the patriot game

And now as I lie here, my body all holes 
I think of those traitors who bargained in souls 
And I wish that my rifle had given the same 

KEY D

verse:
D G C D
D A7 D

chorus:
C G D D 

Background: Tune: "One Morning In May", or "God on Our 
Side". This song was written by Dominic Behan, brother 
of Brendan. It tells the story of Fergal O'Hanlon from 
Ballybay, Co Monaghan, who tried to abolish the border 
between the Six Counties and the Republic. He was 
killed during the Brookborough attack at the age of 17. 
The song has become world famous. Undoubtedly one of 
the best ballads ever to come out of the Irish 
struggles.

During our first year together, we were introduced to a 
wide variety of music. One of the first tapes someone 
lent me was a tape of I.R.B. tunes. Well the very first 
task we had to figure out was what I.R.B. stood for? 
Irish Republican Brotherhood. The Irish Republican 
Brotherhood was formed on Saint Patrick's Day in 1858. 
It was an underground organization designed to remove 
the English from Ireland. 

The song was recorded by numerous artists including Bob 
Dylan and the Kingston Trio. Our version came from the 
aforementioned I.R.B. compilation. I think it may have 
been the Wolfe Tones who sang it, but I'm not sure. In 
any case, it was the first rebel song we learned, and 
still one of our most popular.