Soldierstown

There's a stranger on the road tonight
On the way to Soldierstown
A stranger with his coat pulled tight
And his collar buttoned down
A stranger every sinner knows
A seasoned man of war
Marching to the fires of hell
Scarred by the cannon's roar

They know he's bound for Soldierstown
It's written on the moon
They're pulling all the shutters down
Listening fearful of his tune
He'll sing his song of sixpence
Break his fist upon a door
They know the score in Soldierstown
He's journeyed here before

There is no choice, no compromise
Give up one of your kin
(Tar a thighearna tar a thi)
To save the other children
To save your bone and skin
Tonight's the night, you must decide
Which son will stay or go
(Tar a thighearna tar a thi)
The devil rides in Soldierstown
His boots cut through the snow

A shadow falls on windows
Praying that he'll pass
Listening for the death knell
Of his breath upon the glass
You all must lose a finger
If you wish to save a hand
The stranger chants a mantra
That the townsfolk understand

Now every son and daughter
Has been taken in the night
Condemned they say to slaughter
If they dare to take the fight
It's midnight out in Soldierstown
There's a knock upon the door
The youngest pushed out in the snow
To save the other four

You can hear the screams in Belfast town
Or so the story goes
(Tar a thighearna tar a thi)
You can trace the sets of footprints
In the deepest winter snows
There's nothing here in Soldierstown
Save misery and poain
(Tar a thighhearna tar a thi)
The crops all failed in Soldierstown
They never grew again

The stranger though, misunderstood
Had to come to save their young
To steal them from their poverty
Turn their faces to the sun
To a place where law and love were taught
And peace it overflowed
One night a soulless father
Met the stranger on the road

I'll fight until one of us dies
He screamed into his face
(Tar a thighhearna tar a thi)
I admire your noble notion
Said the stranger, touched by grace
But first please let me show you
Where the young you gave me play
(Tar a thighhearna tar a thi)
In meadows filled with laughter
Growing wiser by the day

One day your son may save you all
From the hell of Soldierstown
But take him back the stranger cried
His patience wearing down
A stranger came to Soldierstown
When twenty years had passed
Looking for his father
Breathing slowly on the glass...

There is no choice, no compromise
Give up one of your kin
(Tar a thighhearna tar a thi)
To save the other children
To save your bone and skin
Tonight's the night, you must decide
Which son will stay or go
(Tar a thighhearna tar a thi)
The devil rides in Soldierstown
His boots cut through the snow

You can here the screams in Belfast town
Or so the story goes
(Tar a thighhearna tar a thi)
You can trace the sets of footprints
In the deepest winter snows
There's nothing here in Soldierstown
Save misery and pain
(Tar a thighhearna tar a thi)
The devil rides in Soldierstown
He's smiling once again