Up De Valera
Source: The Stone Fiddle by Paddy Tunney
Location: New Edition, page 31 / 32
When we were little children, Johnny Redmond was a fool,
He told us to be satisfied with something like Home Rule.
But we have learned a thing or two since we attended school,
And we want a republic now in Ireland.
If we had got the proper thing a president would own,
The empire with the army and the navy would go down.
I know the man who suits us for he fought in Dublin town,
The invincible and gallant De Valera.
Chorus:
Up De Valera, you’re the champion of the fight,
We’ll follow you to battle ‘neath the orange, green and white,
When next we tackle England, we will wash her out of sight,
And make De Valera president of Ireland.
At Ringsend in Boland’s De Valera took his stand.
A hundred of the boys at most were there in his command.
I’m sure the British Tommies they were slightly out of hand,
But you couldn’t put the blame on De Valera.
And then when the Tommies threw their bombs in British style,
Their lovely aim made De Valera’s men begin to smile.
When this took such effect upon the common rank-and-file,
Just imagine then the grin on De Valera.
Chorus
A great day for Ireland will be the winning day.
The boys from every county will be there in grand array,
From Donegal to Kerry and from Clare to Dublin Bay
We’ll bring out the fighting men of Ireland.
There’ll be gunmen, pikemen, pipers by the score
We’ll carry arms openly as in the days of yore
The defence of the realm won’t be heard of anymore
When De Valera’s president of Ireland.
Chorus