Remember Cremona!

France's Irish Brigade Saves the French Army

The flag of Dillon's Regiment, Irish Brigade of France

Homesick, sad, and weary,
Heartsick, hungry, dreary,
(Shout, boys, Erin's the renown!)
O'Brien, Burke, and Tracy,
MacMahon, Dillon, Lacy,
We watch the town.

"What mean those distant sounds!"
As the famished panther bounds,
(Shout, boys, Erin's the renown!)
So he bounded through the gate.

"Rouse ye, comrades, ye are late!
National Museum of Ireland

Prince Eugene has your town!" *

"Are ye mad, or in a trance?
Waken, gentlemen of France!"
(Shout, boys, Erin's the renown!)
"See your lilied flags are flapping,
And your Marshal is caught napping
In Cremona town."

Again and yet again,
Though the third of us are slain,
(Shout boys, Erin's the renown!)
Though Sieur Villeroi is taken,
And the lilied flags are shaken,
Till our tardy comrades waken,
We keep the town.*

Back to back, and face to face,
Wrest from fate this night's disgrace
(Shout, boys, Erin's the renown!)
Ere the sun rose from its bed
Or that livid dawn grew red
Every German spear had fled
From Cremona town.

So failed Eugene's advance,
So failed all foes of France!
(Shout, boys, Erin's the renown!)
Let her praises still resound,
And while the world goes round,
To their praise too redound,
Who stood the victors crowned
In Cremona town.*