The Ballad of Tom Harte
As the dawn light was breaking o'er the prison of mountjoy,
Two brave Irish soldiers were marched forth to die,
For the love of his country on the 6th of September,
Tom Harte from Lurgan met his marker on high.
With MacGrath he was murdered by staters that morning
No family or friend there to bade him farewell,
They feared not to die for their country's loved freedom
A volley rang out and two brave soldiers fell.
CHORUS:
With Barnes and MacCormick they lived in our memories,
With MacNeela and Goss have a place in our hearts,
With Plant and with Darcy and the martyrs of Ireland,
We remember with pride Pat MacGrath and Tom Harte.
Some died in battle, some from torture and hunger,
Some shot by traitors who once sharde their aims.
Although dead they still live in the heart of the freeman,
They inspire us to dare for the cause once again.
With brave Rocky Burns and the noble Tom williams,
Young Maurice O'Neill and his friend Charlie Kerins,
Like MacCaughey they died at the hands of the slaveling,
Brave soldiers of Ireland tortured and slain.
When the bond of the foreman is broken forever,
When the staters who soldier them are forgotten and shamed,
The men of the Forties and the girls who fought with them,
And who kept the flag flying will be honoured again.
They stood in the gap whilst quislings betrayed them,
They suffered and died that our land would be free,
Amongst that noble band we salute a young soldier,
Tom Harte from Lurgan, yor day we will see.
As the dawn light was breaking o'er the prison of mountjoy,
Two brave Irish soldiers were marched forth to die,
For the love of his country on the 6th of September,
Tom Harte from Lurgan met his marker on high.
With MacGrath he was murdered by staters that morning
No family or friend there to bade him farewell,
They feared not to die for their country's loved freedom
A volley rang out and two brave soldiers fell.
CHORUS:
With Barnes and MacCormick they lived in our memories,
With MacNeela and Goss have a place in our hearts,
With Plant and with Darcy and the martyrs of Ireland,
We remember with pride Pat MacGrath and Tom Harte.
Some died in battle, some from torture and hunger,
Some shot by traitors who once sharde their aims.
Although dead they still live in the heart of the freeman,
They inspire us to dare for the cause once again.
With brave Rocky Burns and the noble Tom williams,
Young Maurice O'Neill and his friend Charlie Kerins,
Like MacCaughey they died at the hands of the slaveling,
Brave soldiers of Ireland tortured and slain.
When the bond of the foreman is broken forever,
When the staters who soldier them are forgotten and shamed,
The men of the Forties and the girls who fought with them,
And who kept the flag flying will be honoured again.
They stood in the gap whilst quislings betrayed them,
They suffered and died that our land would be free,
Amongst that noble band we salute a young soldier,
Tom Harte from Lurgan, yor day we will see.