I[Am] went away to[G] fight a war that small[Am] nations might be [G]free Got a[F] soldiers[C] guns and[F] uni[C]form to[G] fight the enemy I wasF] trained to shoot my[C] fellow be[Dm]fore heG] got to[Dm] me And I[G] danced with death in theC] mud and [Am]wept And[G7] prayed my home to[C] see.
Chorus: So come [Dm]over[G] to me[Dm] darling[G] girl come[F] here me Molly[C] dear. You are as[Dm] welcome[G] as the[Dm] flowers in [G]may you're [F]welcome here to[C]me. No[F] more I'll fire the musket[C] shot or[F] hear the[C] cannon[Dm] roar I've[G] done my time, now[C] you'll be[Am] mine I'mG] yours for[G7] ever[C] more
While in the trenches there I thought who starts these bloody wars And thought of these great Irishmen who died on these strange shores Then a bomb did burst to the air it trust some shrapnel fire and blood I escaped it then shot back at them and lay back in the mud.
Chorus:
While I was off in foreign lands, fighting other peoples' wars Some gallant men were fighting here to free their native shore You shot our leaders of 16 saw our city sacked and burned Then you sent us in the Black and Tans to greet our home return.
Chorus:
I don't need your heroes welcome I don't want your bugle call No brass band no pipes and drums, no medal badge or star But give me what you promised me when first I went to war That's freedom for old Ireland and I'll go to fight no more.