Folk and Traditional Song Lyrics:
Irish Rebel Spy

The Irish Rebel Spy

The Irish Rebel Spy

In the city of Mialco near the county of Leone
There lived a comely maiden, her skin as white as snow,
Her cheeks were like the roses, with a dark and rolling eye,
And the proper name she goes by is the Irish Rebel Spy.

She's got one only brother that she worshipped in her soul,
She had one only true love she loved beyond control,
They were Fenian little leaders and before her they would die,
She's our little Fenian leader, she's the Irish Rebel Spy.

She's as bold as any lion, she's as supple as a deer,
She's hardier than the wild cat or the hardy mountain steer
And she's often slept on hillsides with no covering but the sky,
And the proper name she goes by is the Irish Rebel Spy.

O those perils and those redcoats and those spies a-hunting came,
One day as she was walking across the fields they came,
She knew they were detectives by a twinkle of her eye,
And determined to outwit them was the Irish Rebel Spy.

"O good morning, O good morning, O good morning, sir" said she,
"I've a letter for your brother Jim Stevens sent by me,
"Tell me where those bears are lying." They are lying snug and dry
In a hollow where they're dwelling," said the Irish Rebel Spy.

She wrapped her cloak around her, and she led them on the way,
And as they followed after her, she led them far astray,
She talked them to destruction, and she winked at them so sly,
Till one slipped from the saddle for to kiss that Rebel Spy.

Like a wizard in the saddle, O this fair one she could fly,
Like old Nimrod in his farmer days, this fair one she could ride,
Over hills and fences, O this fair one she did fly,
Until she reached those heroes and she halted by their side.

"Hurry up, boys, they re coming, they are just beyond the hill,
And as the ground should open up and swallow them as they fled,
They baffled at the Irish with their curses long and sly,
But determined to outwit them was the Irish Rebel Spy.

Now she sleeps in old Ireland with no stone to mark the spot,
But her name for us in Ireland will never be forgot,
Her name and fame will cherry us until the day we die,
She's our little Fenian leader, she's the Irish Rebel Spy.

Here is a version from Songs of Miramachi (Louise Manny and James Reginald Wilso
n). There are probably some errors as it is written as transcribed from the sing
er. Leone is probably Athlone. Mialco is probably Mulingar, but don't bet on it.
 The singer is John A. Gilks of Southesk

BH
Oct01
BH