Out from the hole they crawled, comrades one and all A new life full of promise they were told Arriving at the docks, angry eyes with muskets cocked General Taylor buying soldiers from the hold
It was 1846 with America seeking bricks From a land far to the south they did not own Mistreatment from the Anglo’s, the Catholic boys depart From Cork and Kerry, Sligo and Tyrone
St Patrick’s battalion, the name given them Followers of the pope and considered lesser men A woeful tale of anger, of bravery and shame Viva San Patricios their memory will remain
Led by Captain John Riley, from Clifden Co Galway The San Patricios fight against them all Side by side with Santa Anna, for Mexico they died You will never see their picture on the wall
The hero’s of Churubusco, renegades in the USA These sons of Ireland homeless saving grace They bury there own dead and not a prayer was ever read With pride they fought and died to keep their faith
Dreams of victory forgotten, they lay their muskets down The Irish all alone nowhere to go The firing squad took aim, what a tragedy what a shame With open arms of God, we’ll never know