• Song:

    The Patriot Game

  • Artist:

    Dominic Behan

  • Album:

    Easter Monday, Songs of...

The Patriot Game by Dominic Behan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominic_Behan




      G       C        G        D            G
Come all ye young rebels, and list while I sing,
         D             G            Bm        G
For the love of one's country is a terrible thing.
    D        G             Bm         Em
It banishes fear with the speed of a flame
       G             C   G      D       G
And it makes us all part of the patriot game.


   G         C   G             D              G
My name is O'Hanlon, and I've just turned sixteen.
    D          G         Bm           G
My home is in Monaghan, where I was weaned.
   D              G          Bm         Em
I learned all my life cruel England to blame,
    G        C    G      D       G
So now I am part of the patriot game.


       G         C    G        D              G
This Ireland of ours has too long been half free;
     D            G          Bm          G
Six counties lie under John Bull's tyranny.
     D         G         Bm        Em
But still De Valera is greatly to blame
    G             C   G       D       G
For shirking his part in the patriot game.


      G           C    G       D            G
They told me how Connolly was shot in his chair,
     D               G            Bm          G
His wounds from the fighting all bloody and bare.
     D         G            Bm            Em
His fine body twisted, all battered and lame;
      G            C    G       D      G
They soon made me part of the patriot game.


   G            C   G     D         G
I don't mind a bit if I shoot down police
          D           G          Bm           G
They are lackeys for war, never guardians of peace
    D         G           Bm        Em
And yet at deserters I'm never let aim
     G          C    G       D        G
The rebels who sold out the patriot game.


      G          C     G        D       G
It's nearly two years since I wandered away
          D     G                Bm    G
With the local battalion of the bold IRA,
      D           G             Bm         Em
I've read of our heroes, and I wanted the same,
    G           C   G       D       G
To play out my part in the patriot game.


     G        C   G        D        G
And now as I lie here, my body all holes,
   D              G           Bm             G
I think of those traitors who bargained in souls
      D             G         Bm        Em
And I wish that my rifle had given the same
          G             C   G          D      G
To those quislings who sold out the patriot game.


(this is my first UG submission so please rate and comment if made a mistake. thanks)
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