In Dublin town in 1916 a flame of freedom did arise
A group of men with determination
Caught an empire by surprise
Through the streets our men were marching
They rallied with their hopes and fears
And the Enda boys came searching
For their leader Padraig Pearse

[Chorus]
The poet and the Irish rebel, a Gaelic scholar and a visionary
We gave to him no fitting tribute
When Ireland's at peace only that can be
When Ireland's a nation, united and free

On Easter morn' he faced the nation from the steps of the GPO
And read aloud the proclamation
The seed of nationhood to sow
But soon the word had spread to London
Of an insurrection there at hand
And the deeds of Padraic Pearse was set about to free his land

[Chorus]
The poet and the Irish rebel
A Gaelic scholar and a visionary
We gave to him no fitting tribute
When Ireland's at peace only that can be
When Ireland's a nation, united and free
For five long days the battle rages
For five long nights the battle wore
We'll watch as Dublin City blazes
And see our men fall to the floor
Now Ireland's proud of her effort
For her cause we fought with pride
But to save more life and to save our city
"We'll make our peace", Mac Piarais cried

[Chorus]
The poet and the Irish rebel
A Gaelic scholar and a visionary
We gave to him no fitting tribute
When Ireland's at peace only that can be
When Ireland a nation, united and free

Kilmainham Gaol in 1916
They brought young Pearse to his death cell
And they had tried him as a traitor
To shoot this man who dared to rebel
He only tried to free his country of the shackles of 800 years
As dawn did break on that May morning
They shot our Leader Padraic Pearse

[Chorus]
The poet and the Irish rebel
A Gaelic scholar and a visionary
We gave to him no fitting tribute
When Ireland's at peace only that can be
When Ireland's a nation, united and free