[Lyric] The San Patricios (The Fenians)

Was eighteen hundred and fourty six when we abandoned company K
We left the Yankee infantry, say goodbye to the USA
A country whose grand promise, we never got to know
To fight with Santa Anna, and the freedom of Mexico

To brand us as deserters would imply that we once belonged
But we were Irish and we were Catholic, when the time and place was wrong
And so we came to turn our backs on what we thought was the promised land
When John Bull reared his ugly head, dressed up as Uncle Sam

[Chorus:]
We had a sweet sip of glory, and a mortal band of rouges
A thorn in the side of Uncle Sam, the San Patricios

John Riley was our Captain, from Galway he did hail
Maccy was a Dublin man, a fighter without fail
Armagh down in Derry, represented in the ranks
Kelly was a Cork man, who belted out the banks

In the conduent at Churubusco, we fought to hold the town
The white flag three times raised, and three times was pulled down
No surrender for San Patricios, or our adopted friends
To the death we fight or face the rope, so we fought on to the end
[Chorus:]
We had a sweet sip of glory, and a mortal band of rouges
A thorn in the side of Uncle Sam, the San Patricios

Brave and yet outnumbered, our remaining band was caught
The stars and stripes was hoisted high, our efforts all for not
Some were rounded up and taken to Sancho square
To face the pain of traitors, they knew waited there

Forced to watch the battle to take Chapultepec
Thirty stood on Ox carts with nooses round their necks
The flying flag the signal, now death is their relief
Now traitors executed, he rose martyred for belief

[Chorus:]
We had a sweet sip of glory, and a mortal band of rouges
A thorn in the side of Uncle Sam, the San Patricios

We had a sweet sip of glory, and a mortal band of rouges
A thorn in the side of Uncle Sam, the San Patricios

Viva [?], viva Mexico, viva Santa Anna, the San Patricos
Viva [?], viva Mexico, viva Captain Riley, San Patricios