Derry's Walls
Dolly's Brae (original)
Dolly's Brae
Oh Daddy whats that uniform in the wardrobe over there?
Has it any history or medals for to bear?
Has it seen the battlefields like bygone days of yore?
Oh Daddy is that the Uniform that you so proudly wore?
See it's buckles shining bright from the shoulder to the waist,
I also see three letters emblazoned on it's breast,
The U it stands for Ulster,
The V for Volunteer,
The F it stands for the Force,
That fights and never fears.
My memory it strays back again to nineteen forty one,
When Ulsters shores were threatened,
By the Jackboot of the Hun,
And Ulsters people rallied round,
They knew they need not fear,
For the knew God was on their side,
And the Ulster Volunteers.
See it's buckles shining bright from the shoulder to the waist,
I also see three letters emblazoned on it's breast,
The U it stands for Ulster,
The V for Volunteer,
The F it stands for the Force,
That fights and never fears.
So son please take my Uniform and go and fight the foe,
And fight just like your father did so many years ago,
For Ulster it is calling and we must never fear,
So take my Gun my only son and join the Volunteers.
See it's buckles shining bright from the shoulder to the waist,
I also see three letters emblazoned on it's breast,
The U it stands for Ulster,
The V for Volunteer,
The F it stands for the Force,
That fights and never fears.
The time has scarce gone round boys, three hundred years ago
When rebels on her Derry's walls, thier faces there not showed
When James and all his rebel band came up to Bishops gate
With heart and hand and sword and shield, we forced them to retreat
They'll fight and don't surrender, but come when duty calls
With heart and hand and sword and shield, we'll guard those Derry's walls
With blood that flow in crimson streams, through many a winters night
They knew the lord was on thier side, to help them win thier fight
They nobely stood upon those walls determined for to fight
To fight and gain the victory and raise the crimson high
They'll fight and don't surrender, but come when duty calls
With heart and hand and sword and shield, we'll guard old Derry's walls
At last, at last, with one broad sigh, kind heaven sent thier aid
The boom that crossed the Foyle was broke, and James he was dismayed
The banner, boys, that floated, was hung aloft with joy
God bless the hands that broke the boom, and saved the apprentice boys
They'll fight and don't surrender, but come when duty calls
With heart and hand and sword and shield, we'll guard old Derry's walls.
'Twas on the twelfth day of July in the year of '49
Ten hundreds of our Orangemen together did combine,
In the memory of King William, on that bright and glorious day
To walk all round Lord Roden's park, and right over Dolly's Brae.
And when we came to Westbridge, wasn't that a glorious sight
To see so many Orangemen all willing for to fight,
To march all round the old remains, the music so sweetly did play,
And the tune we played was "The Protestant Boys" right over Dolly's Brae.
And as we walked along the road not fearing any harm,
Our guns all over our shoulders, and our broadswords in our hands,
Until two priests came up to us, and to Mr. Speers did say,
"Come, turn your men the other road, and don't cross Dolly's Brae.
Then out bespeaks our Orangemen, "Indeed we won't delay,
You have your men all gathered and in a manger lay.
Begone, begone, you Papist dogs, we'll conquer or we'll die
And we'll let you see we're not afraid to cross over Dolly's Brae.
And when we came to Dolly's Brae they were lined on every side
Praying for the Virgin Mary to be their holy guide;
We loosened our guns upon them and we gave them no time to pray,
And the tune we played was "The Protestant Boys" right over Dolly's Brae.
The priest he came, his hands he wrung, saying, "My brave boys, you're
dead,
Some holy water I'll prepare, to sprinkle on your heads,"
The Pope of Rome he did disown, his heart was grieveful sore,
And the Orange cry, as we passed by, was "Dolly's Brae no more!"
Come all ye blind-led Papists, wherever that ye be,
Never bow down to priest or Pope, for them they will disown;
Never bow down to images, for God (you must) adore,
Come, join our Orange heroes, and cry "Dolly's Brae no more".
There was a damsel among them all, and one we shall adore,
For she wore the Orange around her head and cried "Dolly's Brae no more!"
And if they ever come back again, we'll give them ten times more,
And we'll christen this "King William's Bridge", and cry "Dolly's Brae no more."
Being on the 12th day of July, eighteen and forty-nine
The pagans of this country together did combine,
To shoot and slay our Orangemen upon that glorious day,
They did encamp in thousands great at a place called Dolly's Brae.
Lord Roden was Grand Master of the Orangemen just then,
No better chieftain could be found among the sons of men:
To humanists he would not yield, nor any Popish foe.
He firmly stood like Joshua on the plains of Jericho.
He sent an invitation to Rathfriland Orange Corps,
To come and spend the day with him at sylvan Tollymore
The Orangemen they did obey their noble chief's command:
So over Dolly's Brae they marched, a loyal, stalwart band.
The sun did shine with splendor in a bright and cloudless sky,
Our drums did beat and fifes did play, and Orange flags did fly,
Each loyal son, with sword and gun, was ready for the fray,
Had the rebel hordes attacked us going over Dolly's Brae.
Priest Mooney and Priest Murphy went through the rebel lines,
Distributing the wafer god among the Phillistines;
Priest Mooney cursed the Orangemen with candle, book and bell,
While the rebel crowd did cry aloud, "We'll drive them all to hell."
But still the Orangemen marched on thro' Castlewellan town,
Brave Jordan being in command, he feared no Popish frown,
He nobly led his brethren on like William, Prince of yore,
Until they reached the entrance gate of sylvan Tollymore.
A splendid arch that gate did span which we all passed thro,
And in the center of the arch these words appeared in view;
"Welcome all to Tollymore, this day we gladly join,
To commemorate and celebrate the victory of the Boyne".
Lord Roden gave a brief address, and then to us did say,
"Beware, my Orange brethren, going home by Dolly's Brae,
Give no offense to any man as you're returning home,
But don't look shy when passing by those pagan troops of Rome".
We loudly cheered for Roden then and for the British Crown;
Slieve Donard sent the echo back o'er Castlewellan town.
The pagans heard our loyal cheers, as they lay on the hill,
Awaiting there, like hungry wolves, our Orangemen to kill.
We formed in full procession and unfurled our flags once more;
We bade adieu to all the friends we left at Tollymore.
With fifes and drums and loaded gun's we marched away.
Resolving to defend ourselves going home o'er Dolly's Brae.
With courage strong we marched along thro Castlewellan town,
And when we reached the Boretree Hill, a messenger came down.
He says, "Prepare both front and rear, attend to what I say.
A hot reception you will get before you're o'er the Brae.
As o'er the Brae we did proceed, the road being very bare,
The Ribbonmen advantage took and fired upon our rear;
Like lions stout we wheeled about, with powder and with ball,
The volley we sent into them caused scores of them to fall.
The battle it raged loud and keen along the mountain-side,
To save ourselves, as best we could, our ranks we opened wide;
The volleys from the rebel gun's had no effect at all,
For not a man among our ranks fell by a Papish ball.
As fearlessly we charged them, their terror it was great,
Thro rocks and whins, to save their shins, they beat a fast retreat
The Coolagh tykes threw down their pikes and boldly ran away,
And cursed the day they came to fight at fatal Dolly's Brae.
The battle being over, the glorious victory won.
We reached our homes that evening by the setting of the sun,
Our wives and sweethearts met us, returning home that day;
With shouts of joy they greeted us safe back o'er Dolly's Brae.
So now my song I mean to end, my pen I will throw down,
I say success to every man supports the British Crown,
And generations yet unborn shall sing this loyal lay,
And speak of those that beat their foes at famous Dolly's Brae.
