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A SONG OF THE LOYAL IRISH Brian O’Higgins Though written at the time of the foundation of the Irish Free State, this ballad has hardly dated at all ! Boys, O Boys! Listen here to me, We’re going to live in a State that’s Free, Good English citizens all we’ll be; And friends of the Princess Royal; If we only flop on our hands and knees And swear by George of the lands and seas To wipe the green from the Irish trees And for evermore be loyal. We’ll welcome George with a slavish smile We’ll greet him in real colonial style, Back out of his presence half a mile, Like English Whigs and Tories; We’ll damn the deeds of the true and brave Who are sleeping in many an Irish grave Bow down like beggars and humbly crave For a share in England’s glories. We’ll curse the name of the rebel Tone, And of every rebel our land has known And all who hated the English throne, And fought for the Irish Nation, We’ve torn up every oath and vow, We’re part of the civilised Empire now, And the annals of England will teach us how To make sure of our soul’s salvation! All hail the glorious Union Jack! (Though steeped in the blood of the white and the black) We’ll paste it to Ireland’s bended back To prove to the world she’s loyal; We’ll stifle her voice, we’ll drown her cries, We’ll blacken her face with loyal lies, Throw royal dust in her angry eyes And hooray for George the Royal! 
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