The Battle of Benburb
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Lyrics
O'er the hills of Benburb rose the red beam of day
Gleaming bright from our foemen in battle array
But as brightly again in the midsummer glow
It shone back from the troops of our brave Owen Roe!
Monroe had his thousands arrayed at his back
With their Puritan mantles, steel morion, and jack
And with him fierce Blaney and Conway had come
To crush Owen Roe at the roll of a drum!
And who with O'Neill on that morn drew the brand?
Bold hearts as e'er beat by the Blackwater strand
Sir Phelim, brave chief, with his bosom on fire
O'Donnell, MacSweeney, and gallant Maguire!
From Derry's wild woodlands, from Maine's sounding tide
From Leitrim and Longford came chiefs to our side
From Grefney's green hills, with his sword in his hand
Came bold Miles the Slasher, the pride of our land!
We kept all that noontide the foeman at play
Though we thought of their forage and burned for the prey
For our chief bid us wait till the eve had begun
Then rush on the foe with our backs to the sun!
Then hurrah for the Red Hand, and on to a man!
Our columns poured down like a storm on their van
There was panic before us, and panic beside
As their horsemen fled back in a wild, broken tide!
And we took from the foes, ere the calm twilight fall
Their horses and baggage, and banners and all
Then we sat by our campfires and drank in the glow
"Good health to our leader, the brave Owen Roe!
Long life to our leader, the brave Owen Roe!"