Maria De La Rosa, a beautiful song based on a true story, written and performed by Ron Kavana on his album "Alien Alert."

I set out for Spain with a romantic notion
To trace the paths of Irish volunteers
Who had left their homeland to fight and die on foreign soil
In the late '30s, Franco's bloody years

In a sleazy bodega in the back streets of Bilbao
I met a girl with bright green eyes and long red hair
Maria De La Rosa O'Mara sang in Spanish
A version of She Moved Through The Fair

Maria De La Rosa O'Mara
Sing your song one more time
Por favor
Tell us the tale of your dead grandfather
And his part in the Spanish Civil War
Tell us the tale of crazy, noble glory
Finn O'Mara in the Spanish Civil War

Finn O'Mara joined the Basques up near San Sebastian
In the northern campaign of '38
Kept the supply lines open on the border
'Til Barcelona fell and it was all too late

Captured by the Blueshirts somewhere near Lérida
He faced the fascist firing squad that very day
His one last request "Bury me in Basque country
But know I die for freedom, not for Spain."

Maria De La Rosa O'Mara
Sing your song one more time
Por favor
Tell us the tale of your dead grandfather
And his part in the Spanish Civil War
Tell us the tale of crazy, noble glory
Finn O'Mara in the Spanish Civil War