Lyrics The Dubliners

The Dubliners

Saxon Shilling

Hark a marshall sound is heard

The march of soldiers fife and drumming

Eyes are start and hearts are stood

For bold recruits the brave are coming

Ribbons flaunting feathers gay

The sound and sights are surely thrilling

Dazzle village youths the day

Who're proud to take the Saxon Shilling

Peace of spirits will not bow

And peace to parish tyrants longer

Ye who wear the villian brow

And ye who pine and hope asunder

Fools without the brave man's face

Are slaves and starving who are willing

To sell themselves to shame and death

Except the fabled Saxon Shilling

Go to find the crime and toil

That doom to which such guilt is hurried

Go to leave on Indian soil your bones

To breach accursed and buried

Go to crush the just and brave

Whose wrongs with wrath the world are filling

Go to slay each by the slave or

Spurn the blasted Saxon Shilling

Irish hearts why should you bleed

To swell the tide of British glory

Aiding their spots in their needs

Whose chains are green so often gory

None say those who wish to see

The noblest killed the meanest killing

And the true hearts of the risen free

Will take again the Saxon Shilling

Irish youths reserve your strength

Until an hour of glorious duty

When freedom smile shall cheer at length

The land of bravery and beauty

Bribes and threats so heed no more

Let not but justice make you willing

To leave your own dear Ireland shore

For those to send as Saxon Shilling