Vinegar Hill Lyrics

Vinegar Hill lyrics

The sun was settin' the rocks on fire

The fields blisterin' with the heat

When the militia came marchin' through our town

Knockin' sparks off the little streets

The priest watched them from his front door

The sweat sparklin' on his skin

When they burned his little chapel down

He grabbed his missal and his gun



I must go down to Wexford town

Where the lightnin cracks the air

And the people sing of freedom

They've banished all despair

The coward dies a million times

The freeman dies just once

So here's to you revolution

May your flame keep burnin' 'til

We meet our Armageddon

Up high on Vinegar Hill



The priest's name was Citizen Murphy

I didn't like him much

He didn't believe in the rights of man

Just the power of the Catholic Church

But I never saw a man as brave

I'd follow him to hell

Or to death in Enniscorthy

On that godforsaken hill



Fr. Murphy:

"I get down on my knees everyday

And I pray to my God

But his face he has turned away

From his people

I have racked my brains for a compromise

But to what end?

Only one question remains

Why have you deserted me, Oh Christ?



The Bishop advises that all arms must be surrendered

Leaving ourselves defenseless

Against His Majesty and His royal plunderers

But if the Bishop be a pawn

I must ask myself whether it is better

To die like a dog in a ditch

Or rise up with my people - the poor against the rich?



I return to my prayers

And reflect upon Your tortured lips

But not a word do I hear

Just a veil of silence around the crucifix

And I remember the Bishop's words

"When faith is gone, all hope is lost"

Well, so be it,

I will rise up with my people

And to hell with the eternal cost!"



The sun beat down on the fields of corn

The sweat was in our eyes

When we heard the militia approachin'

With their trumpets and their fifes

The priest rode by on his silver horse

The fire had cleansed his soul

He said "let's strike a blow for freedom, boys,"

Then we blew that scum right off the road



I must go down to Wexford town

Where the lightnin' cracks the air

And the people sing of freedom

They've banished all despair

The coward dies a million times

The freeman dies just once

So here's to you revolution

May your flame keep burnin' 'til

We meet our Armageddon

Up high - on Vinegar Hill