San Patricio Brigade

I came to this country an innocent boy
 From the green fields of Galway
 When the hunger was clawin' at me
 Came for redemption, respect and regard
 All I got was new masters
 And a kick up the arse
 Oh, they beat me and robbed me
 On the streets of New York
 When all that I wanted
 Was an honest day's work
 Saying "get up now, Paddy,
 You're an ignorant sort
 Far worse than a beast
 You won't do what you're told"
 Oh, they spat at my crucifix
 Laughed at my church
 They called me a papist
 And many things worse
 I soaked up their insults
 And I swore revenge
 Send them Know-Nothing bastards
 Straight back to hell
 I joined up their army,
 My fortune to make
 But my captain was just another
 Nativist snake
 He beat me and starved me
 Insulted my Race
 By the time I hit Texas
 I was ready to break
 Hiya, le hiya
 Oh, hey San Patricio
 So far from your homeland
 Carinos we miss you oh
 Hiya, le hiya
 Oh, hey San Patricio
 We'll never forget you
 We'll always remember
 The San Patricio Brigade...
 The Mexican people
 They treated us great
 We danced at their weddings
 And sang at their wakes
 We fought in their battles
 And where'er we'd go
 Hiya le mad Irish
 San Patricio
 Oh, we fought the invader
 And held him at bay
 At the battle of San Angel
 And Buena Vista
 If Santa Anna had not fled Churabasco
 We'd be chasing Know-Nothings
 Up past Ohio
 Hiya, le hiya
 Oh, hey San Patricio...
 They took us prisoner
 When our bullets ran out
 And they tried us in
 Their military court
 Not a word 'bout oppression
 Or baiting our Race
 My captain passed sentence
 His eyes filled with hate
 To death on the gallows
 We would not bend our knee
 So they murdered us
 Far from Galway's green fields
 We fought for liberty
 Defense of our creed
 So to hell with Know-Nothings
 Their kith, kin and seed
 Hiya, le hiya
 Oh, hey San Patricio...