Original Dominic Behan version
Come all you young rebels and list while I sing
For love of one's land is a terrible thing
It banishes fear with the speed of a flame
And it makes us all part of the patriot game
My name is O'Hanlon and I'm just gone sixteen
My home is in Monaghan, there I was weaned
I was taught all my life cruel England to blame
And so I'm a part of the patriot game
It's barely two years since I wandered away
With the local battalion of the bold IRA
I read of our heroes and wanted the same
To play out my part in the patriot game
They told me Connolly was shot in the chair
His wounds from the battle are bleeding and bare
His fine body twisted, all battered and lame
They soon made me part of the patriot game
This Ireland of mine has for long been half free
Six counties are under John Bull's monarchy
And still De Valera is greatly to blame
For shirking his part in the patriot game
I don't mind a bit if I shoot down police
They're lackeys for war never guardians of peace
But yet at deserters I'm never let aim
Those rebels who sold out to the patriot game
And now as I lie with my body all holes
I think of those traitors who bargained and sold
I'm sorry my rifle has not done the same
For the quislings who sold out the patriot game
THE PATRIOT GAME is a song written by Dominic Behan who originally released it on his 1958 album Songs Of The Irish Republican Army. The above lyrics are for the original Dominic Behan version of THE PATRIOT GAME as released in 1958.
Bruce Springsteen sound-checked Dominic Behan's THE PATRIOT GAME in 2005 during the Devils & Dust Solo Acoustic Tour but he never performed it on the tour's or any other tour's regular shows. See the 17 May 2005 sound-check version for more details.
List of available versions of THE PATRIOT GAME on this website:
THE PATRIOT GAME [17 May 2005 sound-check version]