Broad Black Brimmer - lyrics

[LeRoy P. Graham]

Hi All,
I am looking for the lyrics to "Broad Black Brimmer". It is on a
couple of Wolfe Tones' albums. There are a couple of spots in the song
where I simply cannot figure out the words.
I tried the Digitrad folk song database and came up with nothing.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
LeRoy P. Graham
email: LeRoy....@uvm.edu

[ClanReilly]

Broad Black Brimmer

Well there is a uniform that's hanging in what's known as father's room

A uniform so simple in it's style

It has no braid of gold or silk nor hat with feathered plum

But me mother preserved it all the while

One day she made me try it on- A wish of mine for years

In memory of father dear she said

And when she put the Sam Browne on she was smiling through the tears

As she placed the broad black brimmer on me head

Chorus:

It's just a broad black brimmer with it's ribbons frayed and torn

By the careless whisk of many a mountain breeze

An old trench coat that's so battlestained and worn

and breaches almost thread bare at the knees

A Sam Browne belt with a buckle with a buckle big and strong

And a holster that's been empty many a day,,( But Not For Long !! )

And when men claim Ireland's freedom

The one's she'll choose to lead em'

Will wear the broad black brimmer of the I.R.A.

It was the uniform being worn by my father long ago

When he reached me mother's homestead on the run

It was the uniform he wore in that little church below

When old father Mackey blessed the pair as one

And after truce and treaty and the parting of the ways

He wore it when he marched out with the rest ( And The Best!!)

And when they bore his body down that rugged heather braes

They placed the broad black brimmer on his breast

Chorus:

May God Have Mercy On Ireland And Keep Her Safe Until Freedom Embraces The
North