Lyr Add: The St. Patrick Battalion (David Rovics)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The St. Patrick Battalion (David Rovics)
From: GUEST,Heather Preston
Date: 29 Jan 24 - 05:53 PM

Well, I thought it needed a little extra information. John Riley, who unlike 50 others was not hanged for treason, as were those who had left to fight for Mexico after the US-Mexico war had begun, but was branded on the face for desertion -- for leaving prior to the start of the war. Riley was said to have answered "I have always been free" when told he was being released after his incarceration for desertion - although that is anecdotal and showed up in a movie about the San Patricios, called 'One Man's Hero.' He returned to Mexico and served with honors until his medical retirement due to yellow fever. There is some uncertainty about his death: location, date, cause etc. There are families in Mexico proud of their San Patricio heritage and carrying Irish surnames to this day.

Appreciate the opportunity to mention that unofficial verse, Joe!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The St. Patrick Battalion (David Rovics)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Jan 24 - 04:28 PM

Last verse 3/9/2022 H. L. Preston (sent it to David Rovics in case he ever wants to use it): The survivors were hanged or were branded / and detailed to bury our men

But even with bodies imprisoned / we carried our freedom within

And now every 12th of September / in Mexico’s cities and towns

They honor the brave San Patricios / who joined them and laid their lives down, for: CH x 2

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The St. Patrick Battalion (David Rovics)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 29 Jan 24 - 04:21 PM

Here's the songwriter's page on this great song: https://www.davidrovics.com/songbook/st-patrick-battalion-2/

THE SAINT PATRICK BATTALION
(David Rovics)

My name is John Riley
I’ll have your ear only a while
I left my dear home in Ireland
It was death, starvation or exile
And when I got to America
It was my duty to go
Enter the Army and slog across Texas
To join in the war against Mexico

It was there in the pueblos and hillsides
That I saw the mistake I had made
Part of a conquering army
With the morals of a bayonet blade
So in the midst of these poor, dying Catholics
Screaming children, the burning stench of it all
Myself and two hundred Irishmen
Decided to rise to the call

From Dublin City to San Diego
We witnessed freedom denied
So we formed the Saint Patrick Battalion
And we fought on the Mexican side

We marched ‘neath the green flag of Saint Patrick
Emblazoned with “Erin Go Bragh”
Bright with the harp and the shamrock
And “Libertad para la Republica”
Just fifty years after Wolf Tone
Five thousand miles away
The Yanks called us a Legion of Strangers
And they can talk as they may

Chorus

We fought them in Matamoros
While their volunteers were raping the nuns
In Monterey and Cerro Gordo
We fought on as Ireland’s sons
We were the red-headed fighters for freedom
Amidst these brown-skinned women and men
Side by side we fought against tyranny
And I daresay we’d do it again

Chorus

We fought them in five major battles
Churobusco was the last
Overwhelmed by the cannons from Boston
We fell after each mortar blast
Most of us died on that hillside
In the service of the Mexican state
So far from our occupied homeland
We were heroes and victims of fate

Chorus

https://www.davidrovics.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/12-The-St-Patricks-Battalion.mp3?_=1

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The St. Patrick Battalion (David Rovics)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Mar 22 - 07:57 PM

Any further information, corrections?

https://songsear.ch/song/The-Wakes-Starting-Tuesday/Saint-Patricks-Battalion/558696

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The St. Patrick Battalion (David Rovics)
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 13 Jul 09 - 07:08 AM

Some history here.
http://www.noraid.com/SaintPatrick.htm

Subject: Lyr Add: THE ST PATRICK BATTALION (David Rovics)
From: Rog Peek
Date: 13 Jul 09 - 06:59 AM

I was unaware of this episode in Irish history until I heard this song by david Rovics.

THE SAINT PATRICK BATTALION
(David Rovics)

My name is John Riley
I'll have your ear only a while
I left my dear home in Ireland
It was death, starvation or exile
And when I got to America
It was my duty to go
Enter the Army and slog across Texas
To join in the war against Mexico

It was there in the pueblos and hillsides
That I saw the mistake I had made
Part of a conquering army
With the morals of a bayonet blade
So in the midst of these poor, dying Catholics
Screaming children, the burning stench of it all
Myself and two hundred Irishmen
Decided to rise to the call

Chorus
From Dublin City to San Diego
We witnessed freedom denied
So we formed the Saint Patrick Battalion
And we fought on the Mexican side

We marched 'neath the green flag of Saint Patrick
Emblazoned with "Erin Go Bragh"
Bright with the harp and the shamrock
And "Libertad a la Republica"
Just fifty years after Wolftone
Five thousand miles away
The Yanks called us a Legion of Strangers
And they can talk as they may

(Chorus)

We fought them in Matamoros
While their volunteers were raping the nuns
In Monterey and Cerro Gordo
We fought on as Ireland's sons
We were the red-headed fighters for freedom
Amidst these brown-skinned women and men
Side by side we fought against tyranny
And I daresay we'd do it again

(Chorus)

We fought them in five major battles
Churobusco was the last
Overwhelmed by the cannons from Boston
We fell after each mortar blast
Most of us died on that hillside
In the service of the Mexican state
So far from our occupied homeland
We were heroes and victims of fate

(Chorus)

RP July09