Hark a marshall sound is heard The march of soldiers fife and drumming Eyes are start and hearts are stood For bold recruits the brave are coming Ribbons flaunting feathers gay The sound and sights are surely thrilling Dazzle village youths the day Who're proud to take the Saxon Shilling
Peace of spirits will not bow And peace to parish tyrants longer Ye who wear the villian brow And ye who pine and hope asunder Fools without the brave man's face Are slaves and starving who are willing To sell themselves to shame and death Except the fabled Saxon Shilling
Go to find the crime and toil That doom to which such guilt is hurried Go to leave on Indian soil your bones To breach accursed and buried Go to crush the just and brave Whose wrongs with wrath the world are filling Go to slay each by the slave or Spurn the blasted Saxon Shilling
Irish hearts why should you bleed To swell the tide of British glory Aiding their spots in their needs Whose chains are green so often gory None say those who wish to see The noblest killed the meanest killing And the true hearts of the risen free Will take again the Saxon Shilling
Irish youths reserve your strength Until an hour of glorious duty When freedom smile shall cheer at length The land of bravery and beauty Bribes and threats so heed no more Let not but justice make you willing To leave your own dear Ireland shore For those to send as Saxon Shilling