[2] It reflects on the human cost of rebellion rather than the glorification of the conflict and the martyrdom of its leaders.
In 1957, the Glasgow born skiffle player Lonnie Donegan made a recording of the song, which was released in 1958.
[4] It was recorded by Tommy Drennan and the Monarchs in 1966 and released on the Ember label album Fifty Years After.
Dominic Behan recorded it on the soundtrack of the 1966 TV documentary Rebellion At Easter.
[6] More recently it was recorded by The Wolfe Tones, Sonny Knowles (on Sunshine and Shamrocks), Margo on Country and Irish, The Jolly Beggarmen (on The Very Best of Irish Rebel Songs), Athenrye (on The Dying Rebel, 1997), Clover Rebel Band, and the Merry Ploughboys (on their second album, Unharnessed, 1999).