American Old Time Song Lyrics: 38 The 18th Royal Irish Brigade

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 38

The 18th Royal Irish Brigade.
Sung by Walter Munroe with great success.

The soldiers were marching through the little Irish town,
And the women were weeping, dismayed;
To add to the laurels of a band of great renown­'Twas the 18th Royal Irish Brigade.
The standard-hearer was a true-born Irish boy,
With curly hair and dancing eyes so full of joy;
He sighed as he wished his girl and parents, old, good-bye;
Then said, "By my flag I will stand till I die."

Chorus.
Holding the standard of England high.
He meant to conquer or to nobly die;
One of the boys who were never afraid;
One of the 18th Royal Irish Brigade.

The battle is raging and beneath the burning sun.
The foe charged I'll thousands untold;
The boys of the 18th drive them back, and then they rise
Their captain so true and so bold.
The foe had captured him-they seek for him in vain;
But see, the standard bearer flies across the plain;
His captain he rescues from a dark and wily foe.
But, ah: as he turns see they deal him a blow.-Chorus.

The boys are searching the battle field for the hero who bore their flag;
They find him, grasping the standard firm, though it is but a tattered rag;
Not dead but dying, they raise him up: he gently gives a sigh And says:
I've done my duty, boys, for Ireland ere I die;
Farewell, dear parents. 'tis the death a man would choose.
Boys, seek my girl and to her gently break the news."
He died, but his regiment he'd honored, not disgraced;
And one more brave deed on their record was placed.-Chorus.