Once upon a time there was Irish Ways and Irish Laws Spillages of Irish blood Waking to the morning Waking to the morning
Then the Vikings came around Turned us up and turned us down Started building boats and towns They tried to change our living They tried to change our living
Cromwell and his soldiers came Started centuries of shame But they could not make us turn We are a river flowing We are a river flowing
Again, again the soldiers came Burnt our houses, stole our grain Shot the farmers in their fields Working for a living Working for a living
It's hundreds years we have been down The secret of the water sound Has kept the spirit of a man Above the pain descending Above the pain descending
Today the struggle carries on I wonder, will I live so long To see the gates be opened up To a people and their freedom A people and their freedom