Follow Me Up To Carlow
The Davitts Lyrics

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Lift MacCahir Og your face, brooding oer the old disgrace when
Black Fitzwilliam stormed your place and drove you to the fern.
Grey said victory was sure soon the firebrand hed secure
Til he met at Glenmalure with Fiach MacHugh OByrne

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 well go for by the Lord

Fiach MacHugh has given his word. Follow me up to Carlow.

See the swords of Glen Imaal, a flashing oer the English pale
See all the soldiers of the Gael beneath OByrnes banner
Rooster of a fighting stock would yet let the English cock
Cry 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 well go for by the Lord
Fiach MacHugh has given his word. Follow me up to Carlow.

Now from Tassagart to Clonmore, there flows a stream of Saxon gore
And great is Rory Og OMore at sending loons to Hades
White is sick and Grey has fled, now for Black Fitzwilliams head
Well 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 well go for by the Lord
Fiach MacHugh has given his 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 well go for by the Lord
Fiach MacHugh has given his word. Follow me up to Carlow.

Overall Meaning

The Davitts's song "Follow Me up to Carlow" is a rousing battle cry that tells the story of the Irish uprising against the English in the late 16thcentury. The song is inspired by the historical events that took place during the Nine Years' War when Fiach MacHugh O'Byrne, an Irish chieftain, led a rebellion against the English forces that had been occupying Ireland since the 12th century. The song begins with a call to action, urging Lift MacCahir Og, an Irish clan leader, to rise up against the English who had driven him from his land. The lyrics describe the fierce battle that ensued at Glenmalure, where the Irish forces, led by Fiach MacHugh O'Byrne, defeated the English.

The lyrics are filled with vivid imagery of the battles that took place, including the flashing swords of Glen Imaal and the stream of Saxon gore that flowed from Tassagart to Clonmore. The song is a tribute to the bravery and determination of the Irish people who fought against the English in their quest for independence. The chorus of the song, "Follow me up to Carlow," is a rallying cry for all those who believe in the cause of Irish freedom.

Overall, "Follow Me up to Carlow" is a powerful and inspiring song that celebrates the spirit of resistance and rebellion that has been a hallmark of Irish history.

Line by Line Meaning

Lift MacCahir Og your face, brooding oer the old disgrace when Black Fitzwilliam stormed your place and drove you to the fern.
MacCahir Og, lift up your face and let go of the past disgrace when Black Fitzwilliam attacked your home and forced you to flee to the forest.

Grey said victory was sure soon the firebrand hed secure Til he met at Glenmalure with Fiach MacHugh OByrne
Grey boasted that he would win and capture the firebrand, until he encountered Fiach MacHugh OByrne at Glenmalure.

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 well go for by the Lord Fiach MacHugh has given his word. Follow me up to Carlow.
Lord Kildare, curse and swear all you want, but Fiach will do whatever he dares. Fitzwilliam, be wary, for your star has fallen low. Take up your weapons and follow Fiach MacHugh, who has promised to lead us to Carlow.

See the swords of Glen Imaal, a flashing oer the English pale See all the soldiers of the Gael beneath OByrnes banner Rooster of a fighting stock would yet let the English cock Cry out upon an Irish rock, fly up and teach him manners.
Observe the flashing swords of Glen Imaal, crossing over into English territory. Witness the brave soldiers of the Gael marching under O'Byrne's banner. Even a rooster from a lineage of fighters would teach the English cock a lesson if it dared to challenge on Irish soil.

Now from Tassagart to Clonmore, there flows a stream of Saxon gore And great is Rory Og OMore at sending loons to Hades White is sick and Grey has fled, now for Black Fitzwilliams head Well send it over dripping red, to Liza and her ladies
Between Tassagart and Clonmore, a river of Saxon blood now flows as Rory Og OMore vanishes his enemies. White is unwell and Grey has escaped, so let's retrieve Black Fitzwilliam's head and present it to Liza and her ladies, dripping with red blood.

Contributed by Jeremiah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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