What for shall I sing you of Roman or Greek
Or the boys we heard tell of in story?
Come match me for fighting, for frolic or freak
An Irishman's reign in his glory!
For Ajax and Hector and bold Agamemnon
Were up to the tricks of our trade, O!
But the rollicking boys for war, ladies, and noise
The boys of the Irish Brigade, O!

What for should I sing you of Helen o' Troy
Or the mischief that came by her flirting?
There's Biddy MacClinchy, the pride of Fermoy
Twice as much of a Helen, that's certain
Then for Venus, so famous, or Queen Cleopatra
Bad luck to the word should be said, O
By the rollicking boys, for war, ladies, and noisе
The Boys of the Irish Brigade, O!

What for should I sing you of classical fun
Or of gamеs, whether Grecian or Persian?
Sure the Curragh's the place where the knowing one's done
And Mallow that flogs for diversion
For fighting, for drinking, for ladies and all
No time like our times e'er was made, O
By the rollicking boys, for war, ladies, and noise
The boys of the Irish Brigade, O!
By the rollicking boys, for war, ladies, and noise
The boys of the Irish Brigade, O!