William "Billy" Reid was a volunteer and Staff Officer in C Company, Third Battalion of the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional IRA. Reid was killed as he attempted another ambush of British Army personnel. This song is a tribute to him. Well[D] I'll sing you a song of a[G] terribly wrong When the[D] flags they flew at half[A] mast Of a[D] man he lay dead he was[G] riddled with[D] led And he died on the[A] streets of Bel[D]fast [Chorus] All the[G] radio said there's[D] another[A] shot[D] dead And he died with a gun in his[A] hand But they[D] didn't say why Billy[G] Reid had to[D] die For he died to[A] free Ire[D]land.
It happened one day while the bold I.R.A They went out to fight for our land With an old Thompson , got the troops on the run And return to their homes was their plan
While returning the guns Billy met British huns And when the fight had begun His position was dire and his gun wouldn't So he died with that old thompson gun
Although he lay dead he was kicked in the head By the hair they dragged him around But they still fear him yet and never forget How brave Billy Reid stood his ground
If you think he was wright come and join in the fight And help to free Belfast Cause the blood that he shed although he was dead In our hearts sure his memory will last