The time has scarce gone round boys, three hundred years ago When rebels on her Derry's walls, thier faces there not showed When James and all his rebel band came up to Bishops gate With heart and hand and sword and shield, we forced them to retreat
They'll fight and don't surrender, but come when duty calls With heart and hand and sword and shield, we'll guard those Derry's walls
With blood that flow in crimson streams, through many a winters night They knew the lord was on thier side, to help them win thier fight They nobely stood upon those walls determined for to fight To fight and gain the victory and raise the crimson high
They'll fight and don't surrender, but come when duty calls With heart and hand and sword and shield, we'll guard old Derry's walls
At last, at last, with one broad sigh, kind heaven sent thier aid The boom that crossed the Foyle was broke, and James he was dismayed The banner, boys, that floated, was hung aloft with joy God bless the hands that broke the boom, and saved the apprentice boys
They'll fight and don't surrender, but come when duty calls With heart and hand and sword and shield, we'll guard old Derry's walls.