Ireland's Foreign Sons
Author: Martin Power
Melody: The Boys of Kilmichael

Ireland's Foreign Sons
Author: Martin Power
Melody: The Boys of Kilmichael

We have sang of the praise of Connolly and of Pearse and Plunket so true
But I'll sing you a song of two foreign young men who fought just as brave and as true.
Their deeds were as gallant as any a man that fought through those terrible days
When Ireland's sons and daughters lit the flame to freedom's way.

It was down nat the Dublin GPO on that Easter Monday morn,
Liam Tannam and several volunteers were shoring up for the storm;
They were building up the barricades for the fight. that surely would come
When two foreign seamen arrived at the door saying 'We'll fight with Ireland's sons'.

Now, one young man was from Sweden, the other young man was a Finn
And they landed in Dublin that morning as the battle was about to begin;
They thought that they'd fight for Ireland's cause and help set our country free
And rid the Irish people of British tyranny.

CHORUS
So here's to the men, the foreign young men, that gallant young Swede and the Finn;
They gave up a life on the ocean to fight beside Ireland's brave men.

They welcomed in the sailor lads and Tannam gave each man a gun;
The Swede, he gave him a rifle, the Finn got a double-barrel gun;
Makapaltis was the young Finn's name and he'd never fired a shot,
He dropped the gun accidentally and Jim Kenny was shot in the foot.

Well, Plunket, he nearly lost his mind and ordered him back to the rear
To help pack cans with explosives and build up the barricades there;
But the Finn and the Swede they would proved their worth when the fighting did finally begin
And won the admiration of Ireland's great fighting men.

CHORUS

For five long days they fought the fight and stood shoulder to shoulder as one
And not one step back did either man take before the Saxon guns
And when the order it finally did come and surrender it would be,
They marched side by side with Irishmen and into captivity.

In Kilmainham Gaol they both were interred to wait upon their fate
And the Swedish consul, it intervened and cut their man a break,
But no one ever came looking for the gallant young fighting Finn
So with Ireland's sons he sailed away and into internment.

When the Roll of Honour is written for all the gallant young men
That fought that time for Ireland's cause let's not forget theFinn
Or the gallant young Swede that took up arms and gave of them their all,
Who stood when Ireland needed men and answered to Her call.

CHORUS

The song is one of those gems of the Oral Tradition that narrates in ballad form an actual event that is generally missed in the larger historical picture.