on rides a captain and 300 soldier lads out of the morning mist and thro the silent snow whistling gaily rides the captain at their head behind him soldier boys sadly weeping go o lads of mine weep no more you are gone to kill and die for when you took my gold and swore to follow me you sold away your lives and your liberty no more you ll till the soil no more you ll work the land no more to the dance you ll go and take girls by the hand o mother weep for your son he is gone to kill and die you ll weep you ll die by the keen edge of the sword you ll all go in the fire there ll be no hiding place o mother hear the drumbeat in the village square o mother that drums for me to go for a soldier there mothers sisters wives weep for us marked as cain we lie alone