The Minstrel Boy

"The Minstrel Boy" was an Earth song that Chief Miles O'Brien often used as his "happy thought" in dire situations. His one-time captain, Benjamin Maxwell, and Will Kayden were also fond of the song. ().
==Lyrics==
:The minstrel boy to the war is gone
:In the ranks of death you will find him
:His father's sword he hath girded on
:And his wild harp slung behind him
:"Land of Song" said the warrior bard
:"Tho' all the world betrays thee
:One sword, at least, thy right shall guard
:One faithful harp shall praise thee"
:The minstrel fell, but the foeman's chain
:Could not bring that proud soul under
:The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again
:For he tore its cords asunder
:And said "no chains shall sully thee,
:Thou soul of love and bravery
:Thy songs were made for the pure and free
:They shall never sound in slavery"
== Background information ==
In "The Wounded", the song is both sung by O'Brien and Maxwell and used as a thematic overture.
The tune of "The Minstrel Boy" is played in the soundtrack of the seventh season episode . It can be heard playing during the scene where O'Brien takes one last look at his quarters and finds the figurine of William B. Travis.
The tune of "The Minstrel Boy" is also played in the soundtrack of the TNG episode . It can be heard playing during the scene where Lieutenant Reginald Barclay is seen leaving the holodeck at the end of the episode.
The song was to have been included in , where the Parada replicant of would have sung it. The scene can be found in the shooting script. ()
"The Minstrel Boy" is also sung by characters in the Star Trek novel , as well as in the ization of .
"The Minstrel Boy" is believed to have been written by Irish poet (1779-1852) to commemorate friends who had died in the . The song has been used in many film and television productions including (starring , , and Christopher Plummer) and (which starred Tom Hardy).
==External links==
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Minstrel Boy, The