I was born and raised in Baltinglass, in the Wicklow Hills where I was born
John O'Brien is my name
I left my home in Ireland and I sailed across the sea
After gambling a great fortune left to me
I sailed aboard an English ship bound for the River Plate
But we were shipwrecked on the seas
There was only two survivors, one salty tar and me
We crossed uncharted islands for to gain our liberty
Against many hidden dangers, till a settlement we did see
Though ruined and shipwrecked was our fate
Against the laws of nature, we survived this great ordeal
Against the laws of God and man

I continued on my journey, then, on an English ship for the Argentine
Everything, I lost at sea
I fell in love with a Quaker girl, she fell in love with me
But her father did not approve of me
He conspired with the captain to get me off that ship
And place me on a Portuguese
When I arrived in Buenos Aires, heartbroken without dissent
I heard of San Martín and to them I went
And from that very moment, I commenced a wild career
With God and justice on my side
I fought a thousand battles that won me great acclaim;
John O'Brien is my name
I am a soldier and nothing more
I fight for freedom and nothing less
I love to gamble; the pretty girls
I gave my sword for freedom and for liberty

I fought long and hard for freedom's cause against the force of liberty
Since the year of 1812
I fought many decisive battles and many long campaigns
And freed the land of Uruguay
In the army of the Andes with O'Higgins and Martín
We fought for Chile and Peru
At the Battle of Chacabuco, the story, it was told
We defeated Maroto and captured all his gold
Then at Santiago, Chile we did win
Then the freedom of Peru
For twelve long years I battled, survived those many wars
John O'Brien was my name
John O'Brien is my name