KELLY THE BOY FROM KILLAN __________________________ Traditional __________________________ What's the news, what's the news, Oh my bold chevalier, with the long barrelled gun on the scene. Pray what wind, from the south, brings your messenger here, With this hymn of the dawn for the free. Goodly news, goodly news, do I bring you perforce, Goodly news, do I bring bargee man. For the boys, march at dawn, from the south to the north, Led by Kelly the boy from Killan. Tell me who, is the giant with the gold curling hair He who strides at the head of your band Seven feet is his height with some inches to spare He looks like a king in command Ah me boys that's the pride of the bold chevaliers The greatest of heroes and men So fling your beavers aloft and give three ringing cheers For John Kelly the boy from Killan Enniscorthy's in flames and old Wexford has won And tomorrow the Barrow we'll ford On a hill over the town we have planted a gun That will batter a gateway to Ross All the pikemen and bargee men will march over the hill With brave Harvey to lead in the van But the foremost of all in that grim gap of death Will be Kelly the boy from Killan But the gold sun of freedom grew dark in that spot And it set by the Slaney's red waves And poor Wexford stripped naked, hung high on a cross With her heart pierced by traitors and knaves Glory o glory o glory o to the brave men who died For the cause of long downtrodden man Glory o to Mount Leinster's own darling and pride John Kelly the boy from Killan