In nineteen hundred and sixteen

The forces of the crown

For to take Orange, White, and Green

Bombarded Dublin Town

But in '21, Britannia's sons

Were forced earn their pay, when

The black and tans, like lightening ran

From the Rifles of the IRA!



They burned their way through Munster

Then laid Leinster on the rack

Through Connacht, and through Ulster

Marched the men in brown and black

They shot down wives and children

In their own heroic way, but

The black and tans, like lightening ran

From the Rifles of the IRA!



They hanged young Kevin Barry high

Just a lad of eighteen years

Cork City's flames lit up in the sky



But our brave lads new no fear

The Cork brigade with hand-grenades

In ambush wait and lay, and

The black and tans, like lightening ran

From the Rifles of the IRA!



The tans were got, taken out and shot

By a brave and valiant few

Sean Treacy, Dinny Lacey

And Tom Barry's gallant crew

Though we're not free yet

We won't forget

Until our dying day, how

The black and tans, like lightening ran

From the Rifles of the IRA