From The Shankill To The Somme

At the age of sixteen years he left his home in tears
His mother watched as he walked out the door
As his family bade farewell and his neighbours wished him well
From the road his dad and brother took before

And as the ship set sail for France he gave Belfast one more glance
As the ship began to move away from shore
He could see there on the land the proud YCV flute band
And he could hear them play "The sash my father wore"

From the Shankill Road they went oh their young lives to be spent
On the first day of july, so long ago
All for the deeds that they have done and the glories they had won
We'll remember as long as the bright red poppies grow

When they charged from Thiepval wood they were in a fighting mood
As they forced their way across the fields of fire
As they stormed that great redoubt you could hear those Ulster shout
As they lay dyin midst the twisted shells and wire

From the Shankill Road they went oh their young lives to be spent
On the first day of july so long ago
All for the deeds that they had done and the glory they had won
We'll remember as long as the bright red poppies grow

On the 9th day of july you could hear a mothers cry
Her eyes were red and filled with loving tears
Oh God my son has died he was fighting side by side
With the boys and men of the Ulster volunteers

From the Shankill Road they went sure their young lives to be spent
On the first day of july so long ago
All for the deeds that they have done and the glories they had won
We'll remember as long as the bright red poppies grow

From the Shankill Road they went oh their young lives to be spent
On the first day of july so long ago
All for the deeds that they have done and the glories they had won
We remember as long as the bright red poppies grow

From the Shankill Road they went oh their young lives to be spent
On the first day of july so long ago
All the deeds that they have done and the glories they had won
We'll remember as long as the bright red poppies grow
We'll remember as long as the bright red poppies grow