The Irish Brigade - Ambush at Clonoe

Here's a a song of young lives lost before their time
Of four daring lads cut down in their prime
In a land that longs for freedom and for peace
It's a prayer that all the heartache soon will cease

Sometimes it's hard to find the words to say
When it cuts so deep the pain won't go away
How much longer must we struggle, mourn, and pray?
'Till we see the light of freedom's dawning day

In their boyhood years these lads learned at first hand
They were only second class in their own land
Stopped and searched by police each time they walked the street
And degraded by each foot patrol they'd meet

To those R.U.C. 'n soldiers it was fun
To intimidate our children with their guns
But there's some young folk who won't take any more
And there's some who want to even up the score

Barry O'Donnell was a thorn in England's side
And he led his volunteers with dauntless pride
Sean O'Farrell stood beside him all the while
And we never will forget his roguish smile

Countless times in action these pair played their part
That they couldn't hold them broke the soldier's hearts
But those lads knew they lived on borrowed time
But they'd make their mark before they crossed the line
In Coalisland Square that February night
Oh the sentries in the barracks all took fright
For on the lorry coming straight ahead
Was a unit of the East Tyrone Brigade

From that lorry's back the Irish flag flew high
And the big machine gun pointed to the sky
And when Barry with that gun began to shoot
Oh! Those Brits longed for transfers to Beirut

As the tracer bullets split the barrack wall
Those bold volunteers they showed no fear at all
As the lorry drove away the people cheered
Not knowing that soon their cries would soon be tears

It was the boldest deed that little town had known
In all the years of struggle in Tyrone
But it was the saddest night that town would come to know
For the S.A.S. lay waiting at Clonoe

Was not until they had the big gun down
And the volunteers thought they were safe and sound
That the sas they opened up from every side
And on that killing ground four brave lads died

We lost bold Peter Clancy on that night
A volunteer who scorned Britannia's might
Young Paddy Vincent died there by his side
He lost his life for what he thought was right
We salute you Barry, Peter, Paddy, Sean
Though you've left us, your memory will live on
For to the crown, a knee you'd never bend
And you were bold and fearless to the end

So come all of you who love your native land
As for peace and freedom we march hand in hand
Our brave volunteers have not been lost in vein
From the ashes we can build our land again

Here's a a song of young lives lost before their time
Of four daring lads cut down in their prime
In a land that longs for freedom and for peace
It's a prayer that all the heartache soon will cease

(Sometimes it's hard to find the words to say)

The Irish Brigade is an Irish republican and Irish folk traditional band formed in 1981 or 1975.