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by Tommy Sands
sung by Mick Moloney
Nor for adding to the sorrows of our troubled northern land
But lately I've been thinking and it just won't leave my mind
I'll tell you of two friends of mine who were both good friends of mine
Isaac Scott from Banagh, he lived just across the fields
A great man for the music, the dancing and the reels
McDonald came from South Armagh to court young Alice fair
And we often met on the Ryan Road and laughter filled the air
-Chorus-
There were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of a people ran together
Now Isaac he was Protestant and Sean was Catholic born
But it never made a difference, for the friendship it was strong
And sometimes in the evening when we heard the sound of drums
We said it won't divide us, we always will be one
For the ground our fathers plowed in, the soil it is the same
And the places where we say our prayers have just got different names
We talked about the friends who'd died and hoped there'd be no more
It was little then we realized the tragedy in store
-Chorus-
It was on a Sunday morning when the awful news came round
Another killing had been done just outside Newry Town
We knew that Isaac danced up there, we knew he liked the band
But when we heard that he was dead we just could not understand
We gathered round the graveside on a cold and rainy day
The minister he closed his eyes and for no revenge he prayed
And all of us who knew him from along the Ryan Road
We bowed our heads and said a prayer for the resting of his soul
-Chorus-
Now fear it filled the countryside there was fear in every home
When late at night a car came prowling round the Ryan Road
A Catholic would be killed tonight to even up the score
Oh Christ it's young McDonald they've taken from the door
Isaac was my friend! he cried, he begged them with his tears
But centuries of hatred have ears that do not hear
An eye for an eye, it was all that filled their minds
And another eye for another eye till everyone is blind
-Chorus-
So my song for you this evening, it's not to make you sad
Nor for adding to the sorrows of our troubled northern land
But lately I've been thinking and it just won't leave my mind
I'll tell you of two friends of mine who were both good friends of mine
Now I don't know where the moral is or where this song should end
But I wonder just how many wars are fought between good friends
And those who give the orders are not the ones to die
It's Scott and McDonald and the likes of you and I
There were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of a people ran together
There were roses, roses
There were roses....
Six Mile Cross and Seven Mile Round;
Cookstown's straight and long,
The drink is right but the price is wrong.
From Carrickmacross to Crossmaglen, you'll get more rogues than honest men;
It wasn't the men from Shercock nor the men from Ballybeagh
But the dear little men from Crossmaglen put whiskey in my tea.
Thomasina from Ballymena could dance on her toes like a ballerina
But she married a man from Cushendall and now she canna dance at all.
Lisnaskea for drinking tea, Maguires Bridge for brandy;
Lisbellaw for walking straw and Derrylin the dandy.
To all your fair waters and every green isle
Oh your green isle will flourish your fair waters flow
While I from old Ireland an exile must go
Her hair is as brown as the young raven's wing
Her eyes are as clear as the blue-bell of spring Father Once Said To Me
In 1916, in the year of our Lord
fighting came to Ireland, like it never had before
For freedom comes to those who fight for its day
so I picked up my rifle and joined the IRA
My great grandfather once said to his son:
the brits will leave before this year is done
This war will soon be in the past and Ireland
will be free at last Cause it won't be long until we've won
that`s what my great grandfather said to his son
A free and united Ireland was our only desire
And the best of the British Army couldn't put out that fire
But a deal with the devil was soon put forth
Freedom for the South and nothing for the North
Well, this didn't seem really right with me
For Ireland is one from sea to sea
And the IRA said our job's not done
So off to the North I went with my gun
We fought in the fields, we fought in the streets
And the English knew we couldn't be beat
We fought with rifles, we fought with rocks
And sent many a soldier home in a box
The fight has been long and many have fell
And we weep for the rebels who starved alone in a cell
For the price of our freedom is paid with blood
of those IRA men who have died in the mud
Is life so sweet or is peace so dear?
That the weight of chains are easy to bear
For freedom comes to those who fight for its day
So pick up your rifle and join the IRA
Now I am a father and I have a son
The brits are still here, they haven't gone
And Ireland bleeds every year
For in the North there is death and fear
Until it's free, I'll keep my gun
That's what I'm going to tell my son