Garryowen

1. Let Bacchus's sons be not dismayed,
But join with me each jovial blade,
Come booze and sing and lend your aid,
To help me with the chorus:

"Chorus"
Instead of spa we'll drink down ale
And pay the reckoning on the nail,
For debt no man shall go to jail
From Garry Owen in glory.

2. We are the boys who take delight
In smashing Limerick lamps at night,
And through the street like sportsters fight,
Tearing all before us.

[Chorus]

3. We'll break windows, we'll break doors,
The watch knock down by threes and fours,
Then let the doctors work their cures,
And tinker up our bruises.

[Chorus]

4. We'll beat the bailiffs out of fun,
We'll make the mayor and sheriffs run,
We are the boys no man dare dun,
If he regards a whole skin.

[Chorus]

5. Our hearts so stout have got us fame,
For soon 'tis known from whence we came,
Where're we go they dread the name,
Of Garry Owen in glory.

Chorus


Garryowen means Owen's Garden and it was a pub in Limerick, Ireland. This jig has become well known as a marching tune in Irish, British and American military units. The US 7th Cavalry of General George Armstrong Custer adopted the song as their own.