The Teenage Rebel Boy

He was just a fourteen year old boy a long way from a man
And because he did discharge his gun wounding a Black and Tan
He was fired on wounded and arrested and by a military judge tried
And sentenced to death by firing squad this was the way he died.

A story from ninety years ago told to him by his dad old Jimmy told to me
Of a miscarriage of justice that's how 'twould seem to be
To condemn to death one who was so young did seem a mortal sin
In every war that ever was for none there was a win.

Just a boy in his early teen years ten years short of his prime
And to condemn him to death by firing squad nothing less than a war crime
Another sad story of injustice of the troubles in Ireland
Why war leads to mistrust and hatred not hard to understand.

A story from old Jimmy that was told to him by his dad
Of the Black and Tan war in Ireland most war stories are sad
Of one treated in the most callous way a long life he did not enjoy
He was put to death by firing squad The Teenage Rebel Boy.