in dublin town in nineteen sixteen a flame of freedom did arise a group of men with determination caught an empire by surprise through the streets our men were marching they rallied with their hopes and fears and the enda boys came searching for their leader padraig pearse chorus the poet and the irish rebel a gaelic scholar and a visionary we gave to him no fitting tribute when ireland s at peace only that can be when ireland a nation united and free on easter morn he faced the nation from the steps of the g p o and read aloud the proclamation the seed of nationhood to sow but soon the word had spread to london of an insurrection there at hand and the deeds of padraic pearse was set about to free his land chorus for five long days the battle rages for five long nights the battle wore we will watch as dublin city blazes and see our men fall through the floor no ireland s proud of her effort for her cause we fought with pride but to save more life and to save our city we make our peace with mcfainis cried chorus kilmainham jail in 1916 they brought young pearse to his death cell and they tried him as a traitor to shoot this man who dared to rebel he only tried to free his country of the shackles of 800 years when dawn did break on that may morning they shot our leader padraic pearse chorus