Henry Joy - Tommy Makem

An Ulster man I am proud to be

From the Antrim glens I come

And though I’ve laboured by the sea

I have followed fife and drum

I have heard the martial tramp of men

I’ve seen them fight and die

Ah!

Lads it’s well I remember when

I followed Henry Joy

I dragged my boat in from the shore

And I hid my sails away

I hung my nets upon a tree

And I scanned the moonlit bay

The boys were out, the red coats too

I kissed my love good-bye

And in the shade of the greenwood glade

I followed Henry Joy

It was for Ireland’s cause we fought

For home and sire, we bled

'Though our numbers were few, our hearts were true

And five to one lay dead

And many a lassie mourned her lad

And mother mourned her boy

For youth was strong in the daring throng

That followed Henry Joy

In Belfast town, they built a tree

And the redcoats mustered there

I saw him come as the beat of a drum

Rolled out in the barrack square

He kissed his sister, went aloft

And waved a last good-bye

My God he died, I turned and I cried

They have murdered Henry Joy