Boys of '98

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Boys of '98 is an old Irish rebel song giving praise to the 1798 rebellion. In the lyrics and melody there are references to the uprising, the Penal Laws, and the use of the pike as a notable weapon during the uprising, despite the domination of warfare during this time period by primarily smoothbore weaponry. This version of the song is performed the Irish-American pub band Shilelagh Law with additional lyrics from another song chronicling the uprising, entitled " The Rising of the Moon ".

"Equality - It is new strung and shall be heard"   Symbol of the Society of United Irishmen, organisers of the 1798 rebellion.  The harp without Crown, symbolizes an independent Irish republic
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"Equality -
It is new strung and shall be heard
"
Symbol of the Society of United Irishmen, organisers of the 1798 rebellion. The harp without Crown, symbolizes an independent Irish republic

[edit] Lyrics (Shilelagh Law version)

Over twenty years ago,

In the land green, white, and gold,

Stood men and women who died for liberty,

Against the tyrants and the Crown,

They'd wish the Union Jack go down,

And the Boys o' '98, they started marchin'


Chorus:

For the Boys of '98,

History would wait,

A dream of life, land and liberty,

But the rebels made a stand,

In the name of Ireland,

So that one day her people might be free


Like their cousins across the sea,

The Sons of Liberty,

They stood in defiance of a king,

Against the British Penal Law,

The Fenian hands stood tall,

And the Boys of '98, they kept on marchin'


Chorus:

For the Boys of '98,

History would wait,

A dream of life, land and liberty,

But the rebels made a stand,

In the name of Ireland,

So that one day her people might be free


Though their efforts were in vain,

They planted seeds that would remain,

An island nation glorious and free,

So good people through the land,

Singin' praise of Ireland,

So that one day her people might be free


Chorus:

For the Boys of '98,

History would wait,

A dream of life, land and liberty,

But the rebels made a stand,

In the name of Ireland,

So that one day her people might be free


Chorus:

For the Boys of '98,

History would wait,

A dream of life, land and liberty,

But the rebels made a stand,

In the name of Ireland,

So that one day her people might be free


So that one day her people might be free,

So that one day her people might be free,


By the risin' o' the Moon,

By the risin' o' the Moon,

A thousand pikes are flashin' by,

The risin' o' the Moon,


By the risin' o' the Moon,

By the risin' o' the Moon,

A thousand pikes are flashin' by,

The risin' o' the Moon,


By the risin' o' the Moon,

By the risin' o' the Moon,

A thousand pikes are flashin' by,

The risin' o' the Moon...

[edit] References

"By The Rising of the Moon" lyrics: http://www.thebards.net/music/lyrics/Rising_Of_The_Moon.shtml

Shilelagh Law homepage: http://www.halfthebottle.com/index.htm