I am the Kilrain, I'm a fightin' man
And I come from County Clare
And the Brits would hang me for a Fenian
So I took my leave of there
And I crossed the ocean in the Arrianne
The vilest tub afloat
And the captain's brother was a railroad man
And he met us at the boat
So I joined up with the 20th Maine
Like I said, my friend, I'm a fighting man
Marchin' south in the pouring rain
We're all goin' down to Dixieland

I am Kilrain of the 20th Maine
And we fight for Chamberlain
'Cause he stood right with us
When the Johnnies came like a banshee on the wind
When the smoke cleared out of Gettysburg
Many a mother wept
For many a good boy died there, sure
And the air smelled just like death
I am Kilrain of the 20th Maine
And I'd march to hell and back again
For Colonel Joshua Chamberlain
We're all goin' down to Dixieland
I am the Kilrain of the 20th Maine
And I damn all gentlemen
Whose only worth is their father's name
And the sweat of a workin' man
Well, we come from the farms and the city streets
A hundred foreign lands
And we spilled our blood in the battle's heat
Now we're all Americans
I am the Kilrain of the 20th Maine
And did I tell you, friend, I'm a fightin' man
And I'll not be back this way again
'Cause we're all goin' down to Dixieland