Boys o the Auld Brigade

**Boys o the Auld Brigade** is a tradeetional Erse fowk sang. It recoonts the Erse Weir o Unthirldom. The story o the sang is telt frae the pynt o view o a boy askin his faither aboot his feelins ae Easter morn (the annual day o memberance in Ireland). The faither gaes on tae tell the laddie hou he mynt takkin pairt in the war. It taks a mair reflective theme unlike mair millitant Erse Republican sangs.

## Celtic Fitbaw Club
The sang is popular amang the awa support o Celtic Fitba Club. It haes makkit a muckle stir amang mony in the Scots fitbaw scene wi mony takin the opeenion that it shaws support for terrorism. Houane'er in truith it recoonts the warstlin o the Auld IRA frae 1916-1922 an nae the Proveesional IRA frae the 1960s tae the praisent. The Celtic fans conteenas tae defend the sang as a wey o myndin the warstlin for unthirldom in Ireland an the makkin o Ireland as a nation ance again.

## Leerics (Inglis)
V1: Oh, faither why are you so sad

On this bright Easter morn’

When Irish men are proud and glad

Of the land where they were born?

V2: Oh, son, I see in mem’ry's view

A far off distant day

When being just a lad like you

I joined the IRA.

Chorus: Where are the lads that stood with me

When history was made?

A Ghra Mo Chroi, I long to see

The boys of the old brigade.

V3: From hills and farms a call to arms

Was heard by one and all.

And from the glen came brave young men

To answer Ireland’s call.

V4: T'was long ago we faced the foe,

The old brigade and me,

And by my side they fought and died

That Ireland might be free.

Chorus: Where are the lads that stood with me

When history was made?

A Ghra Mo Chroi, I long to see

The boys of the old brigade.

V5: And now, my boy, I’ve told you why

On Easter morn’ I sigh,

For I recall my comrades all

And dark old days gone by.

V6: I think of men who fought in glen

With rifle and grenade.

May heaven keep the men who sleep

From the ranks of the old brigade.

Chorus: Where are the lads that stood with me

When history was made?

A Ghra Mo Chroi, I long to see

The boys of the old brigade.

## Leerics (Scots)
V1: Oh, faither hou are ye sae dowie

On this bricht Pace morn

Whan Erse men is prood an cantie

O the laund whaur they wis born?

V2: Oh, son, A see in ma mynd's ee

A faur aff deestant day

Whan bein but a lad like ye

A jyned the IRA.

Owerwird: Whaur is the lads that stuid wi me

Whan history wis made?

A Ghra Mo Chroi, A green tae see

The boys o the auld brigade.

V3: Frae hills an ferms a caw tae airms

Wis heard by ane an aw.

An frae the glen cam brave young men

Tae answer Ireland’s caw.

V4: It wis lang syne we faced the fae,

The auld brigade an me,

An bi ma side they focht an dee'd

That Ireland micht be free.

Owerwird: Whaur is the lads that stuid wi me

Whan history wis made?

A Ghra Mo Chroi, A green tae see

The boys o the auld brigade.

V5: An nou, ma boy, A’v telt ye hou,

On Easter morn A pine,

For A recaw ma comrades aw

An daurk auld days lang syne.

V6: A think o men that focht in glen

Wi rifle an grenade.

Mey heiven haud the men that sleeps

Frae the raings o the auld brigade.

Owerwird: Whaur is the lads that stuid wi me

Whan history wis made?

A Ghra Mo Chroi, A green tae see

The boys o the auld brigade.