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Mike from Garryowen Lyrics by Derek Warfield

2000

[Verse 1]
When Erin called the brave and true to strike the tyrant down
And freedom’s voice in thunder flew through valley, camp, and town
When our old flag of green and gold was to the breeze upthrown
The first to step beneath its fold was Mike from Garryowen
[Verse 2]
For Ireland and her holy cause his heart was all aglow
And to the Saxon tyrant’s laws a firm unflinching foe
In manners mild, yet fierce in fight, with muscle, blood and bone
To strike a blow for Ireland’s right – brave Mike from Garryowen!
[Verse 3]
In ’48 by Meagher’s side he roamed an outlawed man
Forced like the wolf his head to hide on the bleak old Slievenamon
And hunted down by the Saxon sway from country, love, and home
With a heavy heart he sailed away, far, far from Garryowen
[Verse 4]
And long he waited, watched, and prayed that once more he might see
The boys in battle line arrayed, the Sunburst floating free
To see poor Erin’s exiles stand defiant, firm, alone!
To strike one blow for Motherland, and one for Garryowen!
[Verse 5]
And when O’Neill our banner raised on Limestone Ridge that day
Mike’s Irish blood with ardour blazed, impatient for the fray
No slave was he to brook control nor bend to foreign throne
A spotless Fenian, heart and soul, was Mike from Garryowen
[Verse 6]
And when he formed in battle line dressed in his Irish green
Firm as the rugged mountain pine with bold defiant mien
You’d think you saw Lord Edward there, brave Emmet, or Wolfe Tone
His was the heart to do or dare – bold Mike from Garryowen!
[Verse 7]
By heaven, t’was worth a brave man’s life to see our columns tread
To see the green flag in the strife wave o’er the English red
And when the battle cry went out with bold and fearless tone
The loudest cheer, the boldest shout, was Mike from Garryowen!
[Verse 8]
And on the scarlet hirelings came, to crush us in their might
Their rifles blazing fire and flame, their bayonets shining bright
Fierce is the fight; at every stroke, a foe is overthrown!
As in the fire, and flame, and smoke dashed Mike from Garryowen!
[Verse 9]
I saw him stand among his foe, the bayonets flashing ‘round
I saw him in his death grip close, his life blood on the ground
I saw him stand and gasp for breath, I heard his latest moan
And Sarsfield died no braver death than Mike from Garryowen
[Verse 10]
We wrapped him in his Irish green and laid him down to rest
Beside the fair Canadian stream, the shamrock on his breast
And brothers, comrades, ne’er forget, we’ve yet to claim our own
And strike a blow for Ireland yet, like Mike from Garryowen
Credits
Derek Warfield

Derek Warfield

About “Mike from Garryowen” by Derek Warfield

Read the complete lyrics to "Mike from Garryowen" by Derek Warfield in 2000. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop, Irish Folk, American Folk.

"Mike from Garryowen" is performed by Derek Warfield. in 2000 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Mike from Garryowen", explore more songs by Derek Warfield using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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"Mike from Garryowen" is credited to Derek Warfield. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

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