Straight Ahead

The Irish Soldier Laddie (Trad.)

It was morning in July when I walked through Tipperary
When I heard the battle cry from the mountain overhead
I looked up in the sky saw that Irish soldier laddie
He looked at me quite fearlessly and said:

"Oh, will you stand in the van just like a true Irishman?
And go to fight the forces of the crown?
And will you march with O'Neill to an Irish battlefield?
For tonight we'll go and free old Wexford town."

Says I to the soldier lad "Will you take me to your captain.
It will be my pride and joy for to march with you today.
My young brother fell at Cork and my son at Enniscorthy."
So to the noble captain I did say:

"Oh, I will stand in the van like a true Irishman.
And go to fight the forces of the crown.
And I will march with O'Neill to an Irish battlefield
For tonight we'll go and free old Wexford town."

As we marched back again through the shadows of the evening
With our banners flying low to the mem'ry of the dead
We came up to our home but without my soldier laddie
I still can hear those brave words he said:

"Oh, will you stand in the van just like a true Irishman?
And go to fight the forces of the crown?
And will you march with O'Neill to an Irish battlefield?
For tonight we'll go and free old Wexford town."