In Early hours one Sunday morning High upon the gallows tree Kevin Barry gave his young life For the cause of liberty Just a lad of eighteen summers Yet no one can deny As he walked to death that morning He proudly held his head on high Just before he faced the hangman In his lonely prison cell British soldiers tortured Barry Just because he would not tell The names of all your comrades And other things they wished to know "Turn informer or we'll kill you" Kevin proudly answered, "no" Calmly standing to attention While he bade his last farewell To his broken hearted mother Whose grief no one can tell For the cause he proudly cherished This sad parting had to be Then to death walked softly smiling That old Ireland might be free Another martyr for old Ireland Another murder for the crown Whose brutal laws may kill the Irish But can't keep their spirit down Lads like Barry are no cowards From the foe they will not fly Lads like Barry will free Ireland For her sake they'll live and die