Brush up on the Irish National Anthem for the London 2012 Olympics - VIDEO

Sing along to Ireland’s "Amhrán na bhFiann" ("The Soldier's Song") and learn some interesting facts

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Irish fans at the UEFA Cup cheer on the Irish team

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Time to brush up on your "Amhrán na bhFiann" ("The Soldier's Song").

We have provided the lyrics to “The Soldiers Song” here for you to sing along with pride as you watch the Irish Olympians step onto the podium beneath the raised Irish tricolor this summer in London.

Here are some quick facts about "Amhrán na bhFiann" ("The Soldier's Song"):

*It was penned in 1909 by Peader Kearney and Patrick Heeney and adopted as the national anthem in 1928.

* The song was first used at the GPO (General Post Ofiice) during the Easter Uprising in 1916.

* The Irish version was translated by Liam O Rinn.

* Though consisting of three verses, the official National Anthem is just the song’s chorus.

* It is typically sung in Irish.

The Lyrics:

(English)

We'll sing a song, a soldier's song
With cheering rousing chorus
As round our blazing fires we throng
The starry heavens o'er us
Impatient for the coming fight
And as we wait the morning's light
Here in the silence of the night
We'll chant a soldier's song

Soldiers are we
whose lives are pledged to Ireland
Some have come
from a land beyond the wave
Sworn to be free
No more our ancient sire land
Shall shelter the despot or the slave
Tonight we man the gap of danger
In Erin's cause, come woe or weal
'Mid cannons' roar and rifles peal
We'll chant a soldier's song

In valley green, on towering crag
Our fathers fought before us
And conquered 'neath the same old flag
That's proudly floating o'er us
We're children of a fighting race
That never yet has known disgrace
And as we march, the foe to face
We'll chant a soldier's song

Soldiers are we
whose lives are pledged to Ireland
Some have come
from a land beyond the wave
Sworn to be free
No more our ancient sire land
Shall shelter the despot or the slave
Tonight we man the gap of danger
In Erin's cause, come woe or weal
'Mid cannons' roar and rifles peal
We'll chant a soldier's song

Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale!
The long watched day is breaking
The serried ranks of Inisfail
Shall set the Tyrant quaking
Our camp fires now are burning low
See in the east a silv'ry glow
Out yonder waits the Saxon foe
So chant a soldier's song

Soldiers are we
whose lives are pledged to Ireland
Some have come
from a land beyond the wave
Sworn to be free
No more our ancient sire land
Shall shelter the despot or the slave
Tonight we man the gap of danger
In Erin's cause, come woe or weal
'Mid cannons' roar and rifles peal
We'll chant a soldier's song

(In Irish)

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