The Patriot Game Lyrics And Chords
Written By singer / songwriter Dominic Behan. An Irish Rebel ballad. This song is about Fergus O Hanlon from Ballybay Co.Monaghan who was killed in an ambush in Brookorough R.U.C station along side Sean South [ lyrics ] from Limerick. O' Hanlon was 20 years old. Recorded by The Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem and by The Wolfe Tones. Many other songs that are related to Co. Monaghan include On Raglan Road [ song lyrics ] which was written by native poet Patrick Kavanagh.
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[G]Come all ye young[C] re[G]bels, and[D] list while I [G]sing,
For the[C] love of one's[G] country is a[Bm] terrible [G]thing. It[C] banishes fear with the[Bm] speed of a[G] flame, And it makes us all [C]part of the[D] patriot[G] game. My name is O'Hanlon, and I've just turned sixteen. My home is in Monaghan, and where I was weaned I learned all my life cruel England's to blame, So now I am part of the patriot game. This Ireland of ours has too long been half free. Six counties lie under John Bull's tyranny. But still De Valera is greatly to blame For shirking his part in the Patriot game. They told me how Connolly was shot in his chair, His wounds from the fighting all bloody and bare. His fine body twisted, all battered and lame They soon made me part of the patriot game. It's nearly two years since I wandered away With the local battalion of the bold IRA, For I read of our heroes, and wanted the same To play out my part in the patriot game. And now as I lie here, my body all holes I think of those traitors who bargained in souls And I wish that my rifle had given the same To those Quislings who sold out the patriot game. Here's the guitar chords for the key of D.
[D]Come all ye young[G] re[D]bels, and[A] list while I [D]sing, For the[G] love of one's[D] country is a[F#m] terrible [D]thing. It[G] banishes fear with the[F#m] speed of a[D] flame, And it makes us all [G]part of the[A] patriot[D] game. 
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Oration at the graveside of Fergus O Hanlon
Although Fergal had being on training service in Dublin for two years before, this was his first active service. Fergal had being injured badly in the ambush from the machine gun being fired from the top window of the R.U.C. station.
He had being giving cover from the back of the lorry to two other volunteers who were placing bombs at the front of the barracks, Sean South and others were alongside him were badly wounded.
South was shot in the back. The two bombs failed to explode. With gun fire coming from several directions it was decided to retreat. They made there way out of town to an old farm building.
Here is where Sean South and Fergal O'Hanlon were left, their wounds were so bad there was no chance they would have survived, The walking wounded made their escape across fields and mountains for 7 miles until the reached Co. Monaghan in The Republic Of Ireland.
At 8am next morning the R.I.C. recovered the bodies from the farm building. Both Fergal and Sean were given I.R.A. funerals.
He had being giving cover from the back of the lorry to two other volunteers who were placing bombs at the front of the barracks, Sean South and others were alongside him were badly wounded.
South was shot in the back. The two bombs failed to explode. With gun fire coming from several directions it was decided to retreat. They made there way out of town to an old farm building.
Here is where Sean South and Fergal O'Hanlon were left, their wounds were so bad there was no chance they would have survived, The walking wounded made their escape across fields and mountains for 7 miles until the reached Co. Monaghan in The Republic Of Ireland.
At 8am next morning the R.I.C. recovered the bodies from the farm building. Both Fergal and Sean were given I.R.A. funerals.
G.P.O. Dublin Ireland
