On rides a captain and 300 soldier lads
Out of the morning mist and thro' the silent snow
Whistling gaily rides the captain at their head
Behind him soldier boys sadly weeping go

For when you took my gold and swore to follow me
You sold away your lives and your liberty
No more you'll till the soil, no more you'll work the land
No more to the dance you'll go and take girls by the hand
O mother weep for your son
He is gone to kill and die

You'll weep, you'll die by the keen edge of the sword
All alone by the muddy dinubh shore.
He gave the order for the drummers to beat their drum.
The smothers of my clothes the live a soldier lives.

Unfurl your ragged banners and brace your pale young face
You'll all die of fire there'll be no hiding place
O mother hear the drumbeat in the village square
O mother that drums for me to go for a soldier there
Mothers sisters wives, weep for us
Marked as cain we lie alone