Kelly the Boy From Killane
Makem Brothers Lyrics

Kelly, The Boy from Killanne
Introducing the singer of the song, Kelly, who is from the town of Killanne

What's the news? What's the news? O my bold Shelmalier
Asking for news from the soldier, Shelmalier, with a lighthearted tone

With your long-barrelled gun, of the sea?
Asking about the soldier's weapon, possibly a reference to the soldier being in the navy

Say, what wind from the sun blows his messenger here
Asking about the source of the news being conveyed

With a hymn of the dawn for the free?
Referring to the news as a song of hope for freedom

"Goodly news, goodly news, do I bring, youth of Forth,
The soldier, Shelmalier, responds with good news for the people of Forth, a town in Ireland

Goodly news do I bring, Bargy man!
The news is also good for the people of Bargy, another town in Ireland

For the boys march at dawn from the south to the north
Announcing a march from south to north by a group of boys

Led by Kelly, the boy from Killanne!"
Kelly is leading this group of boys

Tell me who is the giant with the gold curling hair,
Asking about the identity of a leader or hero who has striking physical features

He who rides at the head of the band?
Wants to know who the leader is of the group of soldiers marching

Seven feet is his height, with some inches to spare
Describing the giant's imposing size

And he looks like a king in command!
Implying that the giant appears to be a powerful leader

"Oh, me boys, that's the pride of the bold Shelmaliers,
Identifying the giant from earlier as a member of the Shelmalier regiment

Mongst our greatest of heroes, a man!
Stating that the giant is among the greatest of heroes

Fling your beavers aloft and give three rousing cheers,
Inviting the soldiers to celebrate and show their support with a cheer

For John Kelly, the boy from Killanne!"
Reminding the soldiers to cheer for Kelly, their leader

Enniscorthy's in flames, and old Wexford is won,
Reporting on the capture of two towns, Enniscorthy and Wexford

And the Barrow tomorrow we cross.
Announcing that the soldiers will cross the Barrow river the next day

On a hill o'er the town we have planted a gun
Describing the placement of a weapon on a hill overlooking a town

That will batter the gateways to Ross!
Stating the weapon will help attack the gates to Ross

All the Forth men and Bargy men march over the heath
Naming the towns who are all marching together

With brave Harvey to lead on the van;
Naming another leader, Harvey, who is helping lead the group

But the foremost of all in that grim gap of death
Referring to an upcoming battle as a grim gap of death, with one leader standing out as the most important

Will be Kelly, the boy from Killanne!
Stating that Kelly will be the most important leader in the upcoming battle

But the gold sun of freedom grew darkened at Ross
Describing how the hope for freedom was lost in the battle at Ross

And it set by the Slaney's red waves;
Metaphorically referring to the loss of freedom as the setting of the sun

And poor Wexford, stript naked, hung high on a cross
Describing the cruel punishment of people from Wexford after the battle

With her heart pierced by traitors and slaves!
Implying that the punishment was caused by betrayal from within

Glory O! Glory O! to her brave sons who died
Praising the brave soldiers who died fighting for freedom

For the cause of long-down-trodden man!
Stating that the soldiers were fighting for the freedom of oppressed people

Glory O! to mount Leinster's own darling and pride:
Praising Kelly as the pride of mount Leinster, a mountain range in Ireland

Dauntless Kelly, the boy from Killanne!
Final reminder of Kelly's importance and bravery