“Erin Go Bragh,” a patriotic Irish anthem whose title translates to “Ireland Forever,” emerged during the tumultuous period of Irish nationalism in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The phrase itself became a rallying cry for Irish independence movements, particularly associated with the United Irishmen rebellion of 1798. The song’s origins are somewhat obscured by history, likely evolving from street ballads sung by Irish emigrants and revolutionaries. Its lyrics typically recount the struggles of the Irish people against British rule, celebrating Irish heritage while lamenting the hardships of colonial oppression. The song gained significant popularity among Irish diaspora communities in America, where it served as a cultural touchstone connecting immigrants to their homeland. Various versions exist, some emphasizing military resistance while others focus on cultural pride. “Erin Go Bragh” remains emblematic of Irish patriotic sentiment, still performed during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and other Irish cultural events worldwide.
Lyrics
I’ll sing you a song of a row in the town,
When the green flag went up and the Crown flag came down,
‘Twas the neatest and sweetest thing ever you saw,
And they played that great game they called Erin Go Bragh.
God bless gallant Pearse and his comrades who died
Tom Clark, MacDonagh, MacDermott, McBride,
And here’s to James Connolly who gave one hurrah,
And faced the machine guns for Erin Go Bragh.
Now one of our leaders was down in Ring’s end,
For the honour of Ireland to uphold and defend,
He had no veteran soldiers but volunteers raw,
Playing sweet Mauser music for Erin Go Bragh.
Old Ceannt and his comrades like lions at bay,
From the South Dublin Union poured death and dismay,
But what was then often the invaders men saw
All the dead khaki soldiers on Erin Go Bragh.
A great foreign captain was raving that day,
Saying, “Give me one hour and I’ll blow you away,”
But a big Mauser bullet got stuck in his jaw,
And he died of lead poisoning on Erin Go Bragh.
A glory to Dublin, to her we renown,
In the long generations her fame will go down,
And the children will tell how their forefathers saw,
The red blaze of freedom on Erin Go Bragh.
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