Songtext Kelly, the boy from killan The Dubliners

Kelly, the boy from killan

What's the news, what's the news,

Oh me bold chevalier with your long-barrelled gun of the sea?

Say what wind from the south blows your messenger here

With this hymn of the dawn for the free
.
Goodly news, goodly news, do I bring you perforce
?
Goodly news, shall you hear barge man

For the boys march at dawn from the south to the north

Led by Kelly, the boy from Killan.

Tell me who is the giant with the gold curling hair

He who strides at the head of your band

Seven feet is his height with some inches to spare
And he looks like a king in command.

Ah me boys that's the pride of the bold chevaliers

Amongst their greatest of heroes and men.

So fling your beavers aloft and give three ringing cheers

For John Kelly the boy from Killan.

Enniscorthy's in flames and old Wexford has won

And tomorrow the Barrow we cross
On a hill o'er the town we have planted a gun

That will batter a gateway to Ross

All the forthmen and barge men will march over the hill
With brave Harvey to lead in the van
.
But the foremost of all in the grim gap of death

Will be Kelly, the boy from Killan.

But the gold sun of freedom grew dark in the cross,
And it set by the Slaney's red waves
.
And poor Wexford stripped naked, hung high on a cross

With her heart pierced by traitors and knaves.

Glory o glory o glory o to the brave men who died

For the cause of long downtrodden man.

Glory o to Mount Leinster's own darling and pride,

John Kelly, the boy from Killan.