Henry Joy McCracken

An Ulsterman I am proud to be From the Antrim Glens I come Although I labour by the sea I have followed fife and drum I have heard the martial tramp of men I've seen them fight and die And it's well that I remember when I followed Henry Joy I pulled my boat in from the sea And I hid my sails away I hung my nets upon a tree And scanned the moonlit bay The boys were out and the redcoats too I kissed my wife good-bye And there in the shade of the greenwood glade I followed Henry Joy Ah, lads, for Ireland's cause we fought And for home and sire we bled Though our arms were few, our hearts beat true And five to one lay dead And many a lassie mourned her lad A mother mourned her boy For youth was strong in the dashing 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 the drum Rolled out in the barrack square He kissed his sister and went aloft Then waved a last good-bye Ah, lads he died! I turned and cried They have murdered Henry Joy