Young Roddy McCorley Lyrics

Oh see the fleet foot host of men
Who come with faces wan
From Fonstead and from Fisher′s Cut
Along the banks of Bann
They come with vengeance in their eyes
Too late, too late are they
For young Roddy McCorley goes to die
On the bridge of Toome today

Up the narrow street he stepped
Smiling proud and young
About the hemp rope on his neck
The golden ringlets flung
There was never a tear in his blue eyes
Both glad and bright were they
As young Roddy McCorley goes to die
On the bridge of Toome today

When he last stepped up that street
Shining pipes in hand
Around him marched in grim array
A stalwart furnace band
For Runtown town, for Runtown town
He led them to the fray
As young Roddy McCorley goes to die
On the bridge of Toome today

There is nary a one of all your dead
Who bravely fell in fray
Than he who marches to his death
On the bridge of Toome today
True to the last, true to the last
He treads the upward way
As young Roddy McCorley goes to die
On the bridge of Toome today