Joseph Mary Plunkett

I wrote this song for the memory of a man they knew as
Joseph Mary Plunkett
A poet, a laureate, a soldier not
In Kilmainham gaol he tied the knot
Joseph came from his bed, poems to recite in his head
He fired his bullets with the spoken tongue
He had no need for a gun

The wind blows in from the Irish Sea
Flutters the flag of liberty
Joseph's words upon the wall
Blood on the Rose, a Christian call

Joseph read the verses he'd wrote
To comfort those who shook the most
They felt him grab their shoulders tight
His voice was soft but the cause was right
The wind blows in from the Irish Sea
Flutters the flag of liberty

From the GPO to Kilmainham gaol
Sentence was passed to no avail
The British soldiers stood five plus one
Lifted their heads and pointed their guns
To ease their conscience some were given blanks
They might as well have been Chieftans tanks

Joseph's words upon the wall
Blood upon the Rose, a Christian call
Joseph read the verses he'd wrote
to comfort those who shook the most
They felt him grab their shoulders tight
His voice was soft but the cause was right
The wind blows in from the Irish sea
Flutters the flag of liberty

Grace was there by Joseph's side, 15 minutes before he died
In Kilmainham gaol their vows were spoke
Bullets were fired, her heart was broke

Joseph's words upon the wall
Blood upon the Rose, a Christian call
Joseph read the verses he'd wrote
To comfort those who shook the most
They felt him grab their shoulders tight
His voice was soft but the cause was right

The wind blows in from the Irish Sea
Flutters the flag of liberty
Freedom for Ireland fought and won
By a man of words, not the gun