A Soldier's Return - The Wolfe Tones

I went away to fight a war that small nations might be free

Got a soldiers guns and uniform to fight the enemy

I was trained to shoot my fellow before he got to me And I danced with death in the mud and wept

And prayed my home to see.

So come over to me darling girl come here me Molly dear.

You are as welcome as the flowers in may you’re welcome here tome.

No more I’ll fire the musket shot or hear the cannon roar

I’ve done my time, now you’ll be mine

I’m yours for ever more.

While in the trenches there I thought who starts these bloody-wars

And thought of these great Irishmen who died on these strangeshores

Then a bomb did burst to the air it trust some shrapnel fire andblood

I escaped it then shot back at them and lay back in the mud.

While I was off in foreign lands, fighting other peoples' wars

Some gallant men were fighting here to free their native shore

You shot our leaders of 16 saw our city sacked and burned

Then you sent us in the Black and Tans to greet our homereturn.

I don’t need your heroes welcome

I don’t want your bugle call

No brass band no pipes and drums, no medal badge or star

But give me what you promised me when first I went to war

That’s freedom for old Ireland and I’ll go to fight no more.

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