It Was Padraig Cronin Told Me

It was Padraig Cronin told me how the ghosts of Ireland died
When the Irish freedom fighters only had one place to hide
And that was in the graveyards in the tombs they hid away
And their fear of ghosts then vanished that's what Padraig used to say.

I was just a little boy then and much too young to understand
How the Black and Tans those bad men chased the ghosts out of Ireland
And I thought Padraig was only joking when he said the Black and Tan
Rid the fear of ghosts and spirits from the freedom fighting man.

But now I know how right he was their superstitions fed their fear
And when the British ravaged Ireland their phobias did disappear
They found safety in the graveyards and the British never knew
Where those who offered most resistance for safe hiding place went to.

All the ghosts who lived in Ireland are forever dead and gone
'Twas the black and tans who killed them though some ghost stories still live on
When I was a little fellow on a bright and breezy day
It was Padraig Cronin told me as he built a rick of hay.