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--- song:roddy-mccorley [2018/07/09 11:38] – created Jeff Bigler
+++ song:roddy-mccorley [2018/07/09 11:40] (current) – Jeff Bigler
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+====== Roddy McCorley ======
+By Anna Johnston, who used the pen name Ethna Carbery (1866–1902)
+Oh, see the fleet-foot hosts of men who speed with faces wan
+From farmstead and from thresher's cot along the banks of Ban
+They come with vengeance in their eyes; too late, too late are they
+For young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today.
+Oh Ireland, Mother Ireland, you love them still the best
+The fearless brave who fighting fall upon your hapless breast,
+But never a one of all your dead more bravely fell in fray,
+Than he who marches to his fate on the bridge of Toome today.
+Up the narrow street he stepped, so smiling, proud and young.
+About the hemp-rope on his neck, the golden ringlets clung;
+There's ne'er a tear in his blue eyes, fearless and brave are they,
+As young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today.
+When last this narrow street he trod, his shining pike in hand
+Behind him marched, in grim array, an earnest stalwart band.
+To Antrim town! To Antrim town, he led them to the fray,
+Now young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today.
+The grey coat and its sash of green were brave and stainless then,
+A banner flashed beneath the sun over the marching men;
+The coat hath many a rent this noon, the sash is torn away,
+And Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today.
+Oh, how his pike flashed in the sun! Then found a foeman's heart,
+Through furious fight, and heavy odds he bore a true man's part
+And many a red-coat bit the dust before his keen pike-play,
+But Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today.
+There's never a one of all your dead more bravely died in fray
+Than he who marches to his fate in Toomebridge town today;
+True to the last! True to the last, he treads the upwards way,
+And young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today.