Come all you Irishmen both brave and bold
And hear the story that I now unfold
My Blackbird’s banished to a foreign soil
And left Erin’s sons for to weep behind.

From Newry town, boys my Blackbird came
And in Dublin city he did campaign
For seditious writings as you may see
They soon sent my Blackbird across the sea

Now brave John Mitchel was my Blackbird’s name
A faithful son of old Gráinne Mhaol
Whose sons and daughters may now deplore
To see him banished from his native shore

In Green Street Courthouse, where he was tried
His loyal comrade stood by his side
But a packed jury, ‘twas plain to see
They sent our Blackbird across the sea.

To my wife and children he bid adieu
From his loyal comrades he was parted too
Saying ‘I’m forced to go to a foreign clime
Bound down in chains for a felon’s crime’.

It was then the guards they did him surround
And soon the cruel ship was outward bound
To bear my Blackbird across the wave
To live in chains there a convict slave.

He’s gone he’s gone o’er the raging main
Whilst all true Irishmen his loss bewail
It was for his country he fought manfully
Now his wife may weep, and his family.

For fourteen years he is in exile
But we hope to see him yet in Erin’s Isle
To lead all Irishmen of high degree
To triumph over England’s tyranny.