Ten years before I saw the light of morning A comradeship of heroes was laid From every corner of the world came sailing The Fifth International Brigade

They came to stand beside the Spanish people To try and stem the rising fascist tide Franco's allies were the powerful and wealthy Frank Ryan's men came from the other side

Even the olives were bleeding As the battle for Madrid it thundered on Truth and love against the force of evil Brotherhood against the fascist clan

Viva la Quinta Brigada "No Pasaran", the pledge that made them fight "Adelante" is the cry around the hillside Let us all remember them tonight

Bob Hilliard was a Church of Ireland pastor Form Killarney across the Pyrenees he came From Derry came a brave young Christian Brother Side by side they fought and died in Spain

Tommy Woods age seventeen died in Cordoba With Na Fianna he learned to hold his gun From Dublin to the Villa del Rio Where he fought and died beneath the blazing sun

Viva la Quinta Brigada "No Pasaran", the pledge that made them fight "Adelante" is the cry around the hillside Let us all remember them tonight

Many Irishmen heard the call of Franco Joined Hitler and Mussolini too Propaganda from the pulpit and newspapers Helped O'Duffy to enlist his crew

The word came from Maynooth, "support the Nazis" The men of cloth failed again When the Bishops blessed the Blueshirts in Dun Laoghaire As they sailed beneath the swastika to Spain

Viva la Quinta Brigada "No Pasaran", the pledge that made them fight "Adelante" is the cry around the hillside Let us all remember them tonight

This song is a tribute to Frank Ryan Kit Conway and Dinny Coady too Peter Daly, Charlie Regan and Hugh Bonar Though many died I can but name a few

Danny Boyle, Blaser-Brown and Charlie Donnelly Liam Tumilson and Jim Straney from the Falls Jack Nalty, Tommy Patton and Frank Conroy Jim Foley, Tony Fox and Dick O'Neill

Viva la Quinta Brigada "No Pasaran", the pledge that made them fight "Adelante" is the cry around the hillside Let us all remember them tonight