Lyrics of
Come Out Ye Black And Tans

The song Come Out, Ye Black and Tans is an Irish rebel song written by Dominic Behan that focuses on the events of the Irish War of Independence and its aftermath. It refers to the Black and Tans, British forces sent to Ireland during the war, and expresses Irish defiance against their rule. The lyrics call for the Black and Tans to come out and fight like a man and criticizes their role in suppressing the Irish. It also mentions the IRA (Irish R ... epublican Army) and its campaigns against British forces. See more [+]

I was born on a Dublin street where the Royal drums do beat
And the loving English feet they walked all over us
And every single night when me da would come home tight
He'd invite the neighbors outside with this chorus

Oh, come out you black and tans
Come out and fight me like a man
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders
Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away
From the green and lovely lanes in Killashandra

Come let me hear you tell
How you slandered great Parnell
When you thought him well and truly persecuted
Where are the sneers and jeers
That you loudly let us hear
When our heroes of sixteen were executed

Oh, come out you black and tans
Come out and fight me like a man
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders
Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away
From the green and lovely lanes in Killashandra

Come tell us how you slew
Those ol' Arabs two by two
Like the Zulus they had spears and bows and arrows
How you bravely faced one
With your sixteen pounder gun
And you frightened them poor natives to their marrow

Oh, come out you black and tans
Come out and fight me like a man
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders
Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away
From the green and lovely lanes in Killashandra

Now the time is coming fast
And I think them days are here
When each English yeoman he will run before us
And if there be a need
Then our kids will say, "Godspeed!"
With a verse or two of singing this fine chorus

Oh, come out you black and tans
Come out and fight me like a man
Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders
Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away
From the green and lovely lanes in Killashandra