Song Information

Song Title

Fontenoy

Song Lyrics

Oh, have you heard the news, my boys.
That glorious news to-day;
Those gallant sons, with pikes and guns,
Are girding for the fray.
The exiles are returning,
Their dear old land to see;
And you and me must ready be
To strike for liberty.

Chorus
We’ll tear that British banner down,
And we’ll every foe destroy;
Till we trample in the bloody dust
Of an Irish Fontenoy.

The green flag shall wave over us.
As it did in days of yore;
And the dear old harp of Tara’s Hall
Shall strike its chords once more:
And the tune we’ll play, shall be Patrick’s Day,
And we’ll play it o’er and o’er,
And soon you’ll see old Ireland free,
And the exiles home once more.

Chorus

We have begged of England long, my boys,
But now we’ll beg no more;
No more like prowling hounds we’ll crawl
Around our master’s door;
We have learned the way to freedom, boys,
And soon we’ll strike the blow
That will raise up poor old Ireland,
And lay the tyrant low.

Chorus

Song First Line

Oh, have you heard the news, my boys

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Comments

Traditional: Circa 1867

 

The Battle of Fontenoy (a village near Tournai in Belgium) saw the British forces beaten by the French in 1745. The victory entered into the mythology of Irish colonial struggle as an inspiration for the continuing struggle.