in mountjoy jail one monday morning high upon the gallows tree kevin barry gave his young life for the cause of liberty just a lad of eighteen summers yet there s no one can deny as he walked to death that morning he proudly held his head on high just before he faced the hangman in his dreary prison cell british soldiers tortured barry just because he would not tell the names of his brave comrades and other things they wished to know turn informer or we ll kill you kevin barry answered no another martyr for old ireland another murder for the crown whose brutal laws may kill the irish but can t keep their spirits down lads like barry are no cowards from the foe they will not fly lads like barry will free ireland for her sake they live and die