Come all you brave United Men, I pray you lend an ear
And listen to these verses few I now will let you hear
Concerning noble Billy Byrne, a man of high renown
Who was tried and hanged at Wicklow town, a traitor to the Crown.

It was in the year of ninety-eight, we got reason to complain
We lost our brave commander, Billy Byrne was his name
He was taken to Dublin city and brought to Wicklow Jail
And though we wished to free him, for him they’d take no bail.

When he was taken prisoner the lot against him swore
That he a Captain’s title upon Mount Pleasant bore,
Before the King’s grand army his men he did review
And with a piece of cannon marched on for Carrigue.

And when the trial was started the informers they came in
There was Dixon, Doyle and Davis and likewise Bid Doolin
They thought it little scruple his precious blood to spoil
Who never robbed nor murdered nor to any man did ill.

It would melt your heart with pity how these traitors did explain
That Byrne worked the cannon on Arklow’s bloody plain,
They swore he worked the cannon and headed the pikemen,
And near the town of Gorey killed three loyal Orangeman.

They swore he had ten thousand men all ready at his command,
All ready for to bach the French as soon as they would land,
They swore he was committed to support the United cause,
The Judge he cried out: “Guilty”, to be hanged by coercion laws.

One of those prosecutors, I often heard him tell,
It was at his father’s table he was often treated well,
And in his brother’s kitchen where many did he see,
The Byrnes were well rewarded for their civility.

Success to Billy Byrne! may his name forever shine,
Through Wicklow, Wexford and Kildare and all along the line,
May the Lord have mercy on his soul and all such souls as he,
Who stood upright for Ireland’s cause and died for liberty.