"The Irish Volunteer" is the title track of David Kincaid's first album of Civil War related Irish music. For years Kincaid has been the lead singer, lead guitarist, and leading songwriter for the American roots rock band, The Brandos. Kincaid, a long time Civil War enthusiast, assembled a collection of songs written during the Civil War era about Irish American soldiers fighting for the Union. Most of the songs only came with lyrics so Kincaid had to find traditional Irish music to set the lyrics to. Kincaid was devoted to historical accuracy in performing the songs, the pieces are performed only with instruments that would have been available to the people of the period.

Lyrics:
My name is Tim McDonald, I'm a native of the Isle
I was born among old Erin's bogs when I was but a child
My father fought in 'Ninety-Eight, for liberty so dear;
He fell upon old Vinegar Hill, like an Irish volunteer

Then raise the harp of Erin, boys, the flag we all revere
We'll fight and fall beneath its folds, like Irish volunteers!
Then raise the harp of Erin, boys, the flag we all revere
We'll fight and fall beneath its folds, like Irish volunteers!

When I was driven form my home by an oppressor's hand
I cut my sticks and greasеd my brogues, and came o'er to this land
I found a homе an many friends, and some that I love dear;
Be jabbers! I'll stick to them like bricks and an Irish volunteer

Then fill your glasses up, my boys, and drink a hearty cheer
To the land of our adoption and the Irish volunteer!
Then fill your glasses up, my boys, and drink a hearty cheer
To the land of our adoption and the Irish volunteer!

Now when the traitors in the south commenced a warlike raid
I quickly then laid down my hod, to the devil went my spade!
To a recruiting office then I went, that happened to be near
And joined the good old Sixty-Ninth, like an Irish volunteer

Then fill the ranks and march away!--no traitors do we fear;
We'll drive them all to blazes, says the Irish volunteer
Then fill the ranks and march away!--no traitors do we fear;
We'll drive them all to blazes, says the Irish volunteer

Now when the Prince of Wales came over here, and made a hubbaboo
Oh, everybody turned out, you know, in gold and tinsel too;
But then the good old Sixty-Ninth didn't like these lords or peers
They wouldn't give a damn for kings, the Irish volunteers!

We love the land of Liberty, its laws we will revere
"But the devil take the nobility!" says the Irish volunteer!
We love the land of Liberty, its laws we will revere
"But the devil take the nobility!" says the Irish volunteer!

Now if the traitors in the South should ever cross our roads
We'll drive them to the devil, as Saint Patrick did the toads;
We'll give them all short nooses that come just below the ears
Made strong and good of Irish hemp by Irish volunteers

Then here's to brave McClennan whom the army now reveres
He'll lead us on to victory, the Irish volunteers
Then here's to brave McClellan, whom the army now reveres
He'll lead us on to victory, the Irish volunteers

Now fill your glasses up, my boys, a toast come drink with me
May Erin's Harp and the Starry Flag united ever be;
May traitors quake, and rebels shake, and tremble in their fears
When next they meet the Yankee boys and Irish volunteers!

God bless the name of Washington! that name this land reveres;
Success to Meagher and Nugent, and their Irish volunteers!
God bless the name of Washington! that name this land reveres;
Success to Meagher and Nugent, and their Irish volunteers!

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