Derry’s Walls – Lyrics

With the relief of Londonderry celebrations this weekend it is perhaps worth briefly examining the song most associated with the Apprentice Boys Association; Derry’s Walls.

 “Derry’s Walls” is an Ulster folk song about the Great Siege of Londonderry in 1689, like many folksongs its composer is anonymous and date unknown.

It is however set to the tune of “God Bless the Prince of Wales” which was composed to celebrate the marriage of the then future Edward VII to Alexandra of Denmark in 1863.

So, despite often being called “Derry’s Walls” the tune often regarded as the unofficial march of the Apprentice Boys of Derry is ‘God Bless the Prince of Wales’, its technically only being ‘Derry’s Walls’ when the lyrics are sung (In a similar way that it is technically incorrect to call the ‘Londonderry Air’ “Danny Boy” unless the lyrics of Danny Boy are being used).

Regarding using lyrics, over the years of marching in the relief of Londonderry celebrations we have often heard spectators singing ‘Derry’s Walls’, unfortunately in many of these cases those singing don’t seem to know the correct lyrics.

The correct lyrics to Derry’s Walls are:

The time has scarce gone round boys three hundred years ago,

When traitors on old Derry’s walls their faces dare not show.

When James and all his rebel band came up to Bishop’s Gate,

With heart and hand and sword and shield We caused him to retreat.

Then fight and don’t surrender, But come when duty calls

With heart and hand and sword and shield, We’ll guard old Derry’s walls

Tho blood did flow in crimson streams on many a winter night,

They knew the Lord was on their side to help them in their fight.

They nobly stood up on the walls determined for to die,

Or fight and gain the victory and raise the crimson high.

Then fight and don’t surrender, But come when duty calls

With heart and hand and sword and shield, We’ll guard old Derry’s walls

At last, at last with one broadside kind heaven sent them aid,

The boom that blocked the Foyle was broke and James was all dismayed.

The banner boys that floated was run aloft with joy,

God bless the ship that broke the boom and saved the apprentice boys.

Then fight and don’t surrender, But come when duty calls

With heart and hand and sword and shield, We’ll guard old Derry’s walls

The lyrics are not a literal description of the siege but figurative. For example, phrase “sword and shield” being symbolic for weapons of war rather than literal swords and shields (King James II/VII retreated from the walls of Londonderry after being fired upon).

Like practically all folk songs there can be some slight variation. An example of this is in the first verse the opening line of “200 years” rather than “300 years” may be used. This can be attributed to the passage of time.

When the song was sung in the Victorian era and for most of the early 20th Century the time passing since the siege was closer to two centuries rather than three. However, this year marks the 334th anniversary of the end of the Siege so while the line “200 years ago” is not incorrect the line “300 years ago” is arguably more appropriate.

Other slight variations are merely stylistic for example the line the “the boom that crossed, The Foyle was broke” is sometimes sung as “The Boom was broke, That crossed Foyle’s shores”.

Variations in all such cases of a stylist choice are simply cases of saying the same thing slightly differently.

Note there is no use of non-descriptive phrases like “yeeoooo” in any of the slight variations of the song, nor are any individual or groups apart from the Apprentice Boys or King James and his followers mentioned.

Source: ABOD Parent Club