Gallipoli Lyrics
The Fureys & Davey ArthurMusic Video
Gallipoli
I remember the day it stands clear in my mind
We stood down at Dun Laoighaire to wave you goodbye
Your ma was quietly weeping, there was a tear in my eye
As they sent you to Gallipoli to die.
You looked so young as you stood there with a glint in your eye
And you sang rebel songs as the streamers flew high
Your ma turned away and I heard her sigh
For you're sailing to Gallipoli to die
You were all that we had, your mammy and me,
When you marched head erect you were proud as could be
And it killed your poor ma, and it slowly killed me
When you were blown to kingdom come on the shores of Gallipoli.
We only got the one letter and we knew right away
It said deepest regrets your son was bold and he was brave
You were only 18 yet your mammy and I
Let you go to Gallipoli to die
You were all that we had, your mammy and me,
When you marched head erect you were proud as could be
And it killed your poor ma, and it slowly killed me
When you were blown to kingdom come on the shores of Gallipoli.
You fought for the wrong country, you died for the wrong cause.
And your ma often said that it was Ireland's great loss
All those fine young men who marched to foreign shores to fight the wars
When the greatest war of all was at home
You were all that we had, your mammy and me,
When you marched head erect you were proud as could be
And it killed your poor ma, and it slowly killed me
When you were blown to kingdom come on the shores of Gallipoli.
You were all that we had, your mammy and me,
When you marched head erect you were proud as could be
And it killed your poor ma, and it slowly killed me
When you were blown to kingdom come on the shores of Gallipoli.
Song Details
🎶 Composer: Mike Swan
✍️ Lyricist: Daire Doyle
📅 Date: 1970s
🌟 Original Title: The Shores Of Gallipoli
📝 Song Brief:
The heartbreaking story of an only son who leaves home to fight in World War I and never returns. Through the voice of grieving parents, the song reflects on the pride they felt as he marched away, the single letter that brought news of his death, and the deep regret that he fought for a cause not his own. Set against the backdrop of the Gallipoli Campaign, where thousands of Irishmen were lost, the ballad mourns both a beloved child and a generation of young men sent to foreign shores while Ireland faced its own struggle for freedom.🌹
- Dun Laoighaire:
A coastal suburban town in County Dublin, Ireland. It is known for its harbour, ferry port, and long maritime history. In the song, it is the place where the young soldier’s family gathers to say goodbye. - Gallipoli:
A peninsula located in Turkish Thrace, the European part of modern‑day Turkey. It is bordered by the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles Strait to the east. The region was the site of one of the most devastating campaigns of World War I. - Gallipoli Campaign:
A major World War I campaign fought on the Gallipoli peninsula in the Ottoman Empire from 25 April 1915 to 9 January 1916. Allied forces—including Irish, British, Australian, New Zealand, French, and Indian troops—attempted to secure the Dardanelles and open a sea route to Russia.
🕊️ Genre: Anti-War
👥 Covers: The Irish Ramblers, The Fighting Men From Crossmaglen, Jack McDermott, Brier and many more.
🎤 Featured Artist: The Furey Brothers & Davey Arthur
💿 Album: Alcoholidays
Released: 1998
Country: GB
Format: CD, Album
Label: LaserLight Digital
- Silver Threads Among The Gold
- Steal Away
- When You Were Sweet Sixteen
- The Green Fields of France *
- I Will Love You Every Time
- The Old Man *
- She Came To Me
- Poem To The Lonesome Boatman
- Siege Of A Nation
- Gallipoli
- Alcoholidays
Please Note: Asterisked links lead to pages performed by other artists.
🎸 If you'd like to play this song on guitar, you can view the chord version on our sister site, Bell&CoMusic.com.
Back To Top Back to The FUREYS
