Twas on a Sunday evening the sun was in the sky As he walked his way to the Gaelic pitch never thinking he was going to die But as he crossed the checkpoint the sound of gunfire came The news spread through the border town Aiden McAnespie was slain
For years he was harassed by the forces of the crown As he went to his work every day he left his native town The soldiers swore theyґd get him the reason no one can say And sure enough they murdered him in cold blood that sunny day
Oh why did you do it? Have you not the guts to say You say it was an accident or even a ricochet But like Loughgall and Gibraltar your lies are well renowned You murdered Aiden McAnespie on his way to the Gaelic ground
The people heard the gunfire they came from miles around They saw that young man lying there dying on the ground His hold on life was fading fast and people they tried their best That bullet wound it was far to deep it went right through his chest
Oh why did you do it? Have you not the guts to say You say it was an accident or even a ricochet But like Loughgall and Gibraltar your lies are well renowned You murdered Aiden McAnespie on his way to the Gaelic ground
The sad Ballad of Aiden McAespie. Aidan McAnespie (196521 February, 1988) was an Irish Catholic who was killed in contested circumstances by a bullet from a heavy machine-gun held by a soldier at Aughnacloy border checkpoint in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland during The Troubles. Aiden's life had ended it was time for judgement day The soldier he jumped down from the tower and the coward he slipped away God's curse on you Britannia for this cruel deed youґve done But god will have his final say when your judgement day it comes
Oh why did you do it? Have you not the guts to say You say it was an accident or even a ricochet But like Loughgall and Gibraltar your lies are well renowned You murdered Aiden McAnespie on his way to the Gaelic ground
To say it was an accident is the greatest crime of all To his heart-broken family the worst had 'er befalled A cross it marks the lonely spot where Aiden was gunned down As he strolled on that sunny evening on his way to the Gaelic ground
Oh why did you do it? Have you not the guts to say You say it was an accident or even a ricochet But like Loughgall and Gibraltar your lies are well renowned You murdered Aiden McAnespie on his way to the Gaelic ground