The Dreadful Engagement
You Irishmen and women too, draw near, both young and old
A doleful lamentation now to you I will unfold
With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh

One hundred gallant Irishmen, we are left for to deplore
Whose bodies fell a-victim upon fair Columbia's shore
With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh

It was at the siege of New Orleans, upon the ninth of May
Our countrymen they suffered so upon that fatal day
With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh

They were engaged by five to one when charged on with the steel
But Erin's sons did loudly cry, we'll die before we kneel
With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh

They were repulsed, they could not stand, exertion proved in vain
They strove to break the enemy's force, and drive them from the plain
With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh

But alas their number it was too small and it gave them no fair play
Not one of them did near escape upon that fatal day
With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh
To see the streets that evening, each heart would rend with pain
The human blood in rivers ran that can it flood a stream
With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh

Men's heads blown off their bodies most dismal for to see
And wounded men did loudly cry with pain and agony
With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh

The federals they did then advanced and broken through the town
They trampled dead and wounded men that lay upon the ground
With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh

The wounded called for mercy but none they did receive
They numbered them among the dead and threw them in the grave
With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh

Three hundred killed and wounded that then lay in their grave
One half of them were Irishmen far from their native shore
With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh

Poor orphans now they may weep and cry and parents through the day
They let their lovely children go on to Americay
With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh

For ye that hear those doleful lines, do not neglect to toil
An they everfore enlighten good on St. Patricks Isle
With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh
And a drink upon our countrymen who left their native shore
Their friends may mourn for their loss they'll never see them more
With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh

Now to conclude with these few lines, with grief I'll say no more
You know it was through poverty they left their native shore
With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh

They had no one to heal their wounds, may angels them surround
Before the throne of heaven may they wear a brilliant crown
With me too-rai-ah, m'faddle-deedle-da, too-rai-ar-rai-faddle-eedle-da, too-nai-doh