I am Kilrain and I'm a fightin' man
And I come from County Clare
And the Brits would hang me for a Fenian
So I took my leave thereAnd I crossed the ocean in the "Arrianne"
The vilest tub afloat
And the captain's brother was a railroad man
And he met us at the boatSo I joined up with the 20th Maine
Like I said my friend I'm a fighting man
And we're marchin' south in the pouring rain
And we're all goin' down to DixielandI am Kilrain of the 20th Maine
And I fight for the Chamberlain
Cause he stood right with us when the Johnnies came
Like a banshee on the windWhen the smoke cleared out over Gettysburg
Many a mother wept
For many a good boy died there, sure
And the air smelted just like deathAnd I am Kilrain of the 20th Maine
And I'd march to hell and back again
For Colonel Joshua Chamberlain
And we're all goin' down to DixielandAnd I am Kilrain of the 20th Maine
And I damn all gentlemen
Whose only worth is their father's name
And the sweat of a workin' manWell, we come from the farms
And the city streets and a hundred foreign lands
And we spilled our blood in the battle's heat
Now, we're all AmericansI am Kilrain of the 20th Maine
And did I tell you friend I'm a fightin' man
And I'll not be back this way again
'Cause we're all goin' down to Dixieland