[3] The song mourns the failure of the United Irishmen and the loss of leaders like Wolfe Tone but hints at the impending awakening of Irish nationalism much hoped for by the Young Ireland movement.
In Bodenstown churchyard there is a green grave, And wildly around it the winter winds rave; Small shelter I ween are the ruined walls there When the storm sweeps down on the plains of Kildare.
Once I lay on that sod it lies over Wolfe Tone And thought how he perished in prison alone, His friends unavenged and his country unfreed "Oh, bitter," I cried, "is the patriots meed.
There were students and peasants, the wise and the brave, And an old man who knew him from cradle to grave, And children who thought me hard-hearted, for they On that sanctified sod were forbidden to play.
In Bodenstown churchyard there is a green grave, And freely around it let winter winds rave Far better they suit him the ruin and gloom Till Ireland, a nation, can build him a tomb.