'Twas the night before battle and gathered in groups
The soldiers lay close at their quarters
They were thinking no doubt of the dear ones at home
Of mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters

With his pipe in his mouth sat a dashing young blade
And a song he was lilting quite gaily
It was honest Pat Murphy of Meagher's Brigade
And he sang of the sprig of shillelagh

Och murder, says Pat, it's a shame for to see
Brothers fighting in such a queer manner
But I'll fight till I die, if I shouldn't be kilt
For America's bright starry banner

Now if it was only John Bull to the forе
I'd rush into battle quite gaily
For the spalpeen I'd rap with a hеart and a half
With my elegant sprig of shillelagh

Jeff Davis, you thief, if I had you but here
Your beautiful plans I'd be ruinin'
Faith, I'd give you a taste of my bayonet, bedad
For trying to burst up the Union

There's a crowd in the North too, and they're just as bad
Abolitionist spouters so scaly
For troubling the Negros I think they deserve
A whack from a sprig of shillelagh
The morning soon came and poor Paddy awoke
On the Rebels to have satisfaction
And the drummers were beating the Devil's tattoo
Calling the boys into action

Then the Irish Brigade in the battle was seen
Their blood in our cause shedding freely
With their bayonet charges they rushed on the foe
With a shout for the land of Shillelagh

The battle was over, the dead lay in heaps
Pat Murphy lay bleedin' and gory
A hole through his head from a rifleman's shot
Had finished his passion for glory

No more in the camp shall his laughter be heard
Nor his voice singing ditties so gaily
Like a hero he died for the Land of the Free
Far away from the land of Shillelagh

Then surely Columbia can never forget
While valor and fame hold communion
How nobly the brave Irish Volunteers fought
In defense of the flag of our Union

If ever Old Ireland for freedom should strike
We'll a helping hand offer quite freely
And the Stars and the Stripes shall be seen alongside
Of the flag of the land of Shillelagh
It was honest Pat Murphy of Meagher's Brigade
And he sang of the sprig of shillelagh