The Irish Rovers - Henry Joe McCracken lyrics

An Ulster man I am proud to be From the Antrim glens I come And though I've laboured by the sea I have followed fife and drum I have heard the martial tramp of men I've seen them fight and die Ah! Lads it's well I remember when I followed Henry Joy I dragged my boat in from the shore And I hid my sails away I hung my nets upon a tree And I scanned the moonlit bay The boys were out, the red coats too I kissed my love good-bye And in the shade of the greenwood glade I followed Henry Joy It was for Ireland's cause we fought For home and sire, we bled 'Though our numbers were few, our hearts were true And five to one lay dead And many a la**ie mourned her lad And mother mourned her boy For youth was strong in the daring throng That followed Henry Joy In Belfast town, they built a tree And the redcoats mustered there I saw him come as the beat of a drum Rolled out in the barrack square He kissed his sister, went aloft And waved a last good-bye My God he died, I turned and I cried They have murdered Henry Joy