SERVING THE CROWN (Paul O Brien)
At the time of the Easter Rising in Dublin 1916, there were roughly 150,000 Irish volunteers in the trenches, fighting for King and Country. There was no heroes welcome for them when they returned.
This morning the captain said
It’s time for the push
So we climbed on the ladders
And then came the rush
Now we got twenty yards
When the Hun opened fire
And left all my friends dead
Or stuck in the wire
I CAN STILL SEE HER WAVING
I CAN STILL HEAR THE CROWD
AS WE SAILED OUT FOR FLANDERS
TO BE SERVING THE CROWN
Now the captains lying
Just a few feet away
He’s sunk in the mud
And covered in clay
He wants me to help him
He wants it to end
But I’m keeping my head down
Because they’re starting again
I CAN STILL SEE HER…..
They promised we’d be home
By Christmas at least
The Hun would see sense
And come begging for peace
Just more of the lies
And false promises made
I don’t need to dress up
For this Easter parade
I’ve heard that in Dublin
The Fenians are out
And they’re calling us traitors
We’re calling them louts
It’s for them that we’re fighting
For the freedom of man
There’ll be hell to pay
When peace comes again