For What Died the Sons of Roisin (Live)

For what died the sons of Róisín, was it fame?

For what died the sons of Róisín, was it fame?

For what flowed Ireland's blood in rivers

That began when Brian chased the Dane

And did not cease nor has not ceased

With the brave sons of '16

For what died the sons of Róisín, was it fame?

For what died the sons of Róisín, was it greed?

For what died the sons of Róisín, was it greed?

Was it greed that drove Wolfe Tone to a pauper's death in a cell of cold wet stone?

Will German, French or Dutch inscribe the epitaph of Emmett?

When we have sold enough of Ireland to be but strangers in it

For what died the sons of Róisín, was it greed?

To whom do we owe our allegiance today?

To whom do we owe our allegiance today?

To those brave men who fought and died that Róisín live again with pride?

Her sons at home to work and sing

Her youth to dance and make her valleys ring

Or the faceless men who for Mark and Dollar

Betray her to the highest bidder

To whom do we owe our allegiance today?

For what suffer our patriots today?

For what suffer our patriots today?

They have a language problem, so they say

How to write "No Trespass" must grieve their heart full sore

We got rid of one strange language now we are faced with many, many more,

For what suffer our patriots today?