To the tiny homesteads of the West
The recruiting sergeant came
He promised all a future bright
So brave young men went off to fight
For the empire and her laws
And many's a victory they had won
Many the hardships they had seen
They fought and died, side by side
Their enemies they had defied and for a foreign king

[Chorus]
And the drums they were a-beating time
While the pipes did loudly play
When Daly died, the drums did beat
That morning in the Dagshai heat
Now we'll beat the drums no more

While serving in a far off land
The news had come from home
Of our people's fate it did relate
Of the tans and their campaign of hate
And we're fighting on their side
"Arise, arise!" young Daly cried
Come join along with me
We'll strike a blow for liberty
Our regiment will mutiny and support our friends at home
[Chorus]
And the drums they were a-beating time
While the pipes did loudly play
When Daly died, the drums did beat
That morning in the Dagshai heat
Now we'll beat the drums no more

And the colonel stood before his troops
Those men who mutineed
He told them of those honours won
But the men stood in the blazing sun
Saying we'll fight your war no more
For cannon fodder we had been
For the French at Waterloo' at Suvla Side and Sud el Bar
We fought your every bloody war
And we'll fight your war no more

[Chorus]
And the drums they were a-beating time
While the pipes did loudly play
When Daly died, the drums did beat
That morning in the Dagshai heat
Now we'll beat the drums no more

Those men got penal servitude
And Daly's condemned to die
Far from his home in Tyrellspass
This young man's died in Ireland's cause
Far from his native land
[Chorus]
And the drums they were a-beating time
While the pipes did loudly play
When Daly died, the drums did beat
That morning in the Dagshai heat
Now we'll beat the drums no more