The Dreadful Engagement

You Irishmen and women too, draw near, both young and old A dolefull lamentation now to you I will unfold With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh One hundred gallant Irishmen, we are left for to deplore Whose bodies fell victim upon fair Columbia's shore With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh It was at the siege of New Orleans, upon the ninth of May Our Countrymen they suffered so upon that fatal day With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh They were engaged by five to one when charged on with the steel But Erin's sons did loudly cry we'll die before we kneel With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh They were repulsed they could not stand exertion proved in vain They strove to break the enemy's force, and drive them from the plain With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh But alas their number it was too small and it gave them no fair play Not one of them did near escape upon that fatal day With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh To see the streets that evening each heart would rend with pain The human blood in rivers ran that can it flood a stream With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh Men's heads blown off their bodies most dismal for to see And wounded men did loudly cry with pain and agony With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh The federals they did then advanced and broken through the town They trampled dead and wounded men that lay upon the ground With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh The wounded called for mercy but none they did receive They numbered them among the dead and threw them in the grave With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh Three hundred killed and wounded that lay in their grave One half of them were irish men far from their native shore With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh Poor orphans now they may weep and cry and parents through the day They let their lovely children go on to Americay With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh For ye that hear those doleful lines do not neglect to toil An they everfore enlighten good On St Patricks Isle With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh And a drink upon our countrymen who left their native shore Their friends may mourn for their loss they'll never seem them more With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh Now to conclude with these few lines, with grief I'll say no more You know it was through poverty they left their native shore With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh They had no one to heal their wounds may angels them surround Before the throne of heaven may they wear a brilliant crown With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh