The anthem consists of the Chorus only, (beginning Sinne Fianna F?l . . . to . . . Amhr? na bhFiann. below). The first two lines and the last two, played together, form the Irish 'Presidential Salute', played when Her Excellency the President of Ireland attends events.
In recent years, a number of Irish newspapers and columnists have proposed replacing Amhr? na bhFiann with a new Irish national anthem, arguing that the current wording is excessively violent and anti-British. Others have argued that the melody is difficult for bands to play (as Ireland regularly experiences at international sporting events, where either the entire song (not just chorus that is the actual anthem) is played - this occurred at the Los Angeles Olympics, for example - or the right part is played but at the wrong speed, which occurred at the recent olympics). A new sporting anthem, 'Ireland's Call' is now used at international rugby matches, because the Irish rugby team is drawn from the whole island, and is supported by nationalists and unionists, whereas Amhr? na bhFiann is merely the anthem of the twenty-six county Republic of Ireland. However it seems unlikely in the short term at least that Amhr? na bhFiann will be replaced as the National Anthem, though another idea, that like Germany after World War II it should change the words while keeping the original melody, has been suggested.
A MIDI file is at http://www.ireland-information.com/downloads/midi/amhrannabhfiann.mid
Seo dhibh a ch?rde duan Oglaigh, Cathr?meach briomhar ceolmhar, ? dtinte cn?h go buacach t?d, 'S an sp?r go min r?ltogach Is fonnmhar faobhrach sinn chun gleo 'S go ti?mhar gl?roimh th?cht do'n l? F?chi?as chaomh na hoiche ar seol: Seo libh cana?h Amhr? na bhFiann.Sinne Fianna F?l A t?f?gheall ag ?rinn, buion d? slua Thar toinn do r?nig chugainn, F?mh?d bheith saor. Sean t? ? sinsir feasta N?fhagfar f?n tior? n?f?n tr?l Anocht a th?m sa bhearna bhaoil, Le gean ar Ghaeil chun b?s n?saoil Le guna screach f?l?hach na bpil?r Seo libh cana?h Amhr? na bhFiann.
Cois b?ta r?dhe, ar ?daibh sl?bhe, Ba bhuachach ? sinsir romhainn, Ag l?hach go tr?n f?n s?-bhrat s?n T?thuas sa ghaoith go seolta Ba dh?has riamh d'? gcine ch?dh Gan iomp?l siar ?imirt ?r, 'S ag si? mar iad i gcoinne n?had Seo libh, cana?h Amhr? na bhFiann.
--Chorus--
A bhu?n n?h fann d'fhuil Ghaeil is Gall, Sin breacadh lae na saoirse, Ta sc?mhle 's scanradh i gcro?he namhad, Roimh ranna laochra ? dtire. ? dtinte is tr?th gan spr?ch anois, Sin luisne ghl?san sp?r anoir, 'S an b?bha i raon na bpil?r agaibh: Seo libh, cana?h Amhr? na bhFiann.
--Chorus--
We'll sing a song, a soldier's song, With cheering rousing chorus, As round our blazing fires we throng, The starry heavens o'er us; Impatient for the coming fight, And as we wait the morning's light, Here in the silence of the night, We'll chant a soldier's song.NOTE: In the English version of the chorus, the Gaelic bhearna bhaoil is sung instead of the English translation "gap of danger". The Gaelic is roughly pronounced "VAHR-na veel", which fits into the English rhyming scheme.Soldiers are we whose lives are pledged to Ireland; Some have come from a land beyond the wave. Sworn to be free, No more our ancient sire land Shall shelter the despot or the slave. Tonight we man the gap of danger In Erin's cause, come woe or weal 'Mid cannons' roar and rifles peal, We'll chant a soldier's song.
In valley green, on towering crag, Our fathers fought before us, And conquered 'neath the same old flag That's proudly floating o'er us. We're children of a fighting race, That never yet has known disgrace, And as we march, the foe to face, We'll chant a soldier's song.
--Chorus--
Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale! The long watched day is breaking; The serried ranks of Inisfail Shall set the Tyrant quaking. Our camp fires now are burning low; See in the east a silv'ry glow, Out yonder waits the Saxon foe, So chant a soldier's song.
--Chorus--