Follow Me Up To Carlow - Fine Crowd

“Follow Me Up to Carlow“ is an Irish folk song celebrating the defeat of an army of 3,000 English soldiers led by Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton, by an Irish Catholic force made up of the Gaelic clans from the Wicklow Mountains led by Fiach Mac Aodh Ó Broin (anglicised Fiach McHugh O’Byrne) at the Battle of Glenmalure (Irish: Cath Ghleann Molúra) during the Second Desmond Rebellion in 1580, in Wicklow, Ireland. LYRICS: Lift Mac Cahir Óg your face, broodin’ o’er the old disgrace That black Fitzwilliam stormed your place and drove you to the fern Gray said victory was sure, soon the firebrand he’d secure Until he met at Glenmalure with Fiach McHugh O’Byrne Curse and swear, Lord Kildare, Fiach will do what Fiach will dare Now Fitzwilliam have a care, fallen is your star low Up with halberd, out with sword, on we go for, by the Lord Fiach McHugh has given the word “Follow me up to Carlow!“ See the swords at Glen Imaal, flashin’ o’er the English Pale See all the children of the Gael, beneath O’Byrne’s banner Rooster of a fighting stock, would you let a Saxon cock Crow out upon an Irish Rock, fly up and teach him manners. Curse and swear, Lord Kildare, Fiach will do what Fiach will dare Now Fitzwilliam have a care, fallen is your star low Up with halberd, out with sword, on we go for, by the Lord Fiach McHugh has given the word “Follow me up to Carlow!“ From Tassagart to Clonmore, flows a stream of Saxon gore How great is Rory Óg O’More at sending loons to Hades White is sick, Gray is fled, now for black Fitzwilliam’s head We’ll send it over, dripping red, to Liza and her ladies Curse and swear, Lord Kildare, Fiach will do what Fiach will dare Now Fitzwilliam have a care, fallen is your star low Up with halberd, out with sword, on we go for, by the Lord Fiach McHugh has given the word “Follow me up to Carlow!“ Curse and swear, Lord Kildare, Fiach will do what Fiach will dare Now Fitzwilliam have a care, fallen is your star low Up with halberd, out with sword, on we go for, by the Lord Fiach McHugh has given the word “Follow me up to Carlow!“