Patriot Game, The

DESCRIPTION: "Come all you young rebels and list' while I sing, For the love of one's land is a terrible thing." 16-year-old O'Hanlon wanted to fight England and "free" Ulster. Now he lies with his body "all holes." He wishes he had accomplished more
AUTHOR: Dominic Behan
EARLIEST DATE: 1962 (copyright)
KEYWORDS: Ireland IRA political death war
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Behan-IrelandSings, #68, "The Patriot Game" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, PATGAME1*
Roud #18464
SAME TUNE:
With God On Our Side (by Bob Dylan, and available in many pop songbooks)
NOTES [47 words]: Behan reports that this was inspired by the death of one Feargal O'Hanlon in 1957. It has been preserved mostly by pop folk singers (who seem to have adapted the message with regularity), but there are a handful of semi-traditional collections, so perhaps it belongs in the Index. - RBW
Last updated in version 5.1
File: Beha068

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Digital Tradition lyrics:

PATRIOT GAME (DT Lyrics) (Dominic Behan) 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. 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 To those Quislings who sold out the patriot game.

PATRIOT GAME (corrected from Behan) (Dominic Behan) Come all you 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 I'm just gone sixteen. My home is in Monaghan, and where there I was weaned I learned all my life cruel England's to blame, So now I am And so I'm a part of the patriot game. (moved) It's nearly two years It's barely a year since I wandered away With the local battalion of the bold I.R.A., For I read of our heroes and wanted the same To play out up my part in the Patriot Game. They told me how Connolly was shot in his a chair, His wounds from the fighting all bloody bleeding and bare. His fine body twisted, all battered and lame They soon made me part of the patriot game. This Ireland of ours mine has too for long been half free. Six Counties lie are under John Bull's tyranny. Monarchy. But still De Valera is greatly to blame For shirking his part in the Patriot Game. I don't mind a bit if I shoot down police They are lackeys for war never guardians of peace, But 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 sold And I wish that I'm sorry my rifle had given has not done the same To For those Quislings who sold out the Patriot Game.

Tune: One Morning In May, or God on Our Side
Copyright Clifford Music Co., Ltd.
@Irish @rebel
recorded by Owen McBride and by Judy Collins
see also PATGAME2
filename[ PATGAME1
TUNE FILE: PATGAME
CLICK TO PLAY
RG