Lyrics

The night before a battle All through the camp The soldiers lay close in their quarters They were thinking, no doubt Of their loved ones at home; Mothers, wives, children, and daughters Far away in the East, sat a dashing young blade And a song he was singing so gaily It was honest Pat Murphy of the Irish Brigade And he sang of the sprig of Shillelagh "Well now" Says Pat, "What a pity to see Brothers fighting in such a strange manner But I'll fight 'til I die And I'll surely be killed For America's bright starry banner It was only John Bole, who adhered to the four I would rush into battle so gaily And I'd let her away, with a heart and a hand With me elegant sprig of shillelagh" The morning then came And Patty arose, on the rebels To have satisfaction The drummer was beating "The Devil's Tattoo" Calling the boys into action! And the Irish Brigade in the battle was seen Their blood, for the cause, shedding freely As with bayonet charges, they marched on the foe With a shout; "For the land of shillelagh!" The battle was over The dead lay in heaps Pat Murphy lay bleeding and gory A hole in his head from a rifleman's shot Had ended his passion for glory No more in the camp, will his laughter be heard Or his voice singing ditties so gaily Like a hero, he died for the land of the free Far away from the land of Shillelagh Then surely Colombia will never forget Where valor and fame hold communion How boldly those brave Irish Volunteers fought In defense of the flag of the Union And if ever 'Ol Ireland, assistance does need Our call we'd be heeding quite gaily And the stars and the stripes will be seen alongside Of the flag of the land of Shillelagh Far away in the East, sat a dashing young blade And a song he was singing so gaily It was honest Pat Murphy of Meagher's Brigade And he sang of the sprig of Shillelagh