The lyrics to Kevin Barry tell how this 18 year old Irish volunteer was executed during the Irish War of Independence.
Kevin Barry
Capture and Torture
Trial and Execution
His mother’s grief
Videos
Kevin Barry was born in Dublin on 20th Jan.1902. This song recounts his death. He was a member of the Irish Republican Army.
He was hanged on 1st November 1920 – he was 18 year old.
The melody is taken from the traditional song, Rolling Home to Ireland, but it’s not known who wrote the lyrics.
The chords are presented here in the key of G Major. Use our key converter if you need to change the chords to a key that suits your voice better.
Kevin Barry lyrics and chords in G Major
[chordsandlyrics]In Mountjoy [G]jail one morning, high above the gallows [D]tree,
Kevin Barry gave his [C]young [D]life, for the [D7]cause of libe[G]rty.
Just [G]a lad of eighteen summers yet there’s no one can de[D]ny
As he marched to death that [C]mor[D]ning, he proudly [D7]held his head on [G]high.[/chordsandlyrics]
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Shoot me like an Irish soldier do not hang me like a dog,
For I fought to free old Ireland on that still September morn.
All around the little bakery where we fought them hand to hand,
Shoot me like an Irish soldier, for I fought to free Ireland.
Just before he faced the hangman in his dreary prison cell,
British soldiers tortured Barry because he would not tell
The names of his brave comrades and other things they wished to know,
“Turn informer and we’ll kill you.” Kevin Barry answered “No”.
Calmly standing to attention while he bade his last farewell
To his broken-hearted mother whose sad grief no-one can tell.
For the cause he proudly cherished, this sad parting had to be
Then to death he walked softly smiling that old Ireland might be free.
Another martyr for old Ireland, another murder for the crown,
Whose brutal laws may kill the Irish, but can’t keep their spirits down.
Lads like Barry are no cowards, for the cause they will not lie
Lads like Barry will free Ireland, for her sake we’ll live and die.
Kevin Barry
Capture and Torture
Trial and Execution
His mother’s grief
Videos
Lyrics and chords
Kevin Barry lyrics and chords print version
In Mountjoy [G]jail one morning, high above the gallows [D]tree,
Kevin Barry gave his [C]young [D]life, for the [D7]cause of libe[G]rty.
Just [G]a lad of eighteen summers yet there’s no one can de[D]ny
As he marched to death that [C]mor[D]ning, he proudly [D7]held his head on [G]high.
Shoot me like an Irish soldier do not hang me like a dog,
For I fought to free old Ireland on that still September morn.
All around the little bakery where we fought them hand to hand,
Shoot me like an Irish soldier, for I fought to free Ireland.
Just before he faced the hangman in his dreary prison cell,
British soldiers tortured Barry because he would not tell
The names of his brave comrades and other things they wished to know,
“Turn informer and we’ll kill you.” Kevin Barry answered “No”.
Calmly standing to attention while he bade his last farewell
To his broken-hearted mother whose sad grief no-one can tell.
For the cause he proudly cherished, this sad parting had to be
Then to death he walked softly smiling that old Ireland might be free.
Another martyr for old Ireland, another murder for the crown,
Whose brutal laws may kill the Irish, but can’t keep their spirits down.
Lads like Barry are no cowards, for the cause they will not lie
Lads like Barry will free Ireland, for her sake we’ll live and die.
Kevin Barry
Capture and Torture
Trial and Execution
His mother’s grief
Videos
Lyrics and chords
