Subject: Lyr Add: SHUTTING THE GATES OF DERRY
From:
John in Brisbane
Date: 12 May 99 - 10:53 PM
Following on from the Derry song I posted yesterday, here's another. Regards, John.
Shutting of the Gates of Derry Tune - Auld Lang Syne
Full many a long wild winter's night And sultry summer's day Are past and gone since James took flight From Derry Walls away. Cold are the hands that closed that gate Against the wily foe But here to Time's remotest date, Their spirit still shall glow.
2. So here's a health to all good men, Now fearless friends are few. But when we close our gates against We'll then be all True Blue. Lord Antrim's men came down yon glen With drums and trumpets gay Our 'Prentice Boys just heard the noise And then prepared for play.
3. While some opposed, the gates they closed, And joining hand-in-hand Before the wall resolved to fall Or for their freedom stand, When honor calls to Derry Walls, The noble and the brave, Oh! He that in the battle falls Must find a hero's grave.
4. Then came the hot and doubtful fray, With many a mortal wound; While thousands in wild war's array, Stood marshaled all around. Each hill and plain was strewed with slain The Foyle ran red with blood; But all was vain the town to gain Here William's standard stood.
5. Renowned are they who face their foes As men and heros should; But let the slave steal to his grave Who fears to shed his blood, The matchless deeds of those who here Defied the tyrant 's frown On history's bright rolls appear Emblazoned in renown. 6. Here deathless Walker's faithful word Sent hosts against the foe And gallant Murray's bloody sword The Gallic chief laid low, We honor those heroic dead, Their glorious memory: May we, who stand here in their stead As wise and valliant be! 7. Oh! Sure a heart of stone would melt, The scenes once here to see: And witness all our fathers felt, To make their country free They saw the lovely matron's cheek With want and terror pale They heard the child's expiring shriek, Float on the passing gale! 8. Yet here they stood in field of blood, As battle raged around Resolved to die till victory Their purple standard crowned. The sacred rights these heroes gained In many a hard-fought day Shall they by us be still maintained Or basely cast away?
9. Shall rebels vile rule o'er our isle, And call it all their own? Oh, surely no! The faithless foe Must bend before the throne Then here's a health to all good men, To all good men and true; And when we close our gates again, We'll then be all True Blue.
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