Songs and Recitations of Ireland 4. [antikvár]

THE FLAG THAT FLOATS ABOVE USiThe slave may bend in abject fear.And hug the chains that bind him;The coward can run his base career. Nor light of freedom find him;But while above us floats the flag Of green and orange blended.No tyrant knave its folds shall drag While our stout arms defend it.We ask for nought but what's our own From friend or foreign foeman;We're one in love, in blood, in bone. And yield or bend to no man.We fight the fight our fathers fought Beneath the same ould standard;They nobly died as brave men ought. While leading Freedom's vanguard.Gaze on our standard as it flies. By freemen's hand supported;A prouder yet 'neath heaven's skies, A fairer never floated.It waves o'er Brian and O'Neill.O'er Sarsfleld, Tone and Emmet;It oft' has braved the foeman's steel. And foeman's blood upon it.No hirelings servile slave are we. To bend with mock submissionTo the alien's grinding tyranny Or despot's fierce ambition.But for our own, our suffering land. Our foreign foes defying.We'll strike while we can raise a hand And keep that banner flying.A living rampart round it throng. Ten thousand hearts are readyTo strike a blow 'gainst alien wrong. Calm, patient, firm and steady.Then shout it out to foe or friend. To those who hate or love us;While left remains we will defend The flag that floats above us. 5