While the melody bears a resemblance to the nineteenth century English sea shanty "Drunken Sailor", several versions of the Irish tune and chorus are identifiable.
[4] In the early twentieth century, it received new verses by the nationalist poet Patrick Pearse and was often sung by members of the Irish Volunteers during the Easter Rising.
This version features the pirate or "Great Sea Warrior" Grace O'Malley, a formidable power on the west coast of Ireland in the late sixteenth century.
A Shéarlais Óig,[8] a mhic Rí Shéamais[9] 'Sé mo mhór-chreach do thriall as Éirinn Gan tuinnte bróig' ort, stoca nó leinidh Ach do chascairt leis na Gallaibh
'Sé mo léan géar nach bhfeicim Mur mbéinn beo 'na dhiaidh ach seachtain Séarlas Óg is míle gaiscidheach Ag fógairt fáin ar Ghallaibh
Young Charles, son of King James It's a great distress – your exile from Ireland Without thread of shoe on you, socks or shirt Overthrown by the foreigners
Tá Gráinne Mhaol ag teacht thar sáile, Óglaigh armtha léi mar gharda, Gaeil iad féin is ní Gaill[10] ná Spáinnigh, Is cuirfidh siad ruaig ar Ghallaibh.
A bhuí le Rí na bhFeart go bhfeiceam, Mura mbeam beo ina dhiaidh ach seachtain, Gráinne Mhaol agus míle gaiscíoch, Ag fógairt fáin ar Ghallaibh.
Gráinne O'Malley is coming over the sea, Armed warriors along with her as her guard, They are Gaels, not invaders [British] nor Spanish... And they will rout the foreigners!