| John Riley came from Galway town in the years of the Irish hunger |
| He sailed away to America when the country was much younger |
| Now the place was strange and work was scarce and all he knew was farming |
| So he followed all the other men to a job in the US Army |
| Chorus: |
| Adventure calls and some men run, and this is their sad story |
| Some get drunk on demon rum, some get drunk on glory |
| Now they marched down Texas way to the banks of the Rio Grande |
| They built a fort on the banks above to taunt old Santa Anna |
| They were treated bad, and paid worse, and then the fighting started |
| And the more they fought the less they thought of the damned old US Army |
| Chorus |
| When the church bells rang on Sunday morn they set his soul a shiver |
| Saw the Señoritas wash their hair on the far side of the river |
| John Riley and two hundred more Irish mercenaries |
| They cast their lot, right or not, south of the Rio Grande |
| Now they fought brave under the flag of the San Patricios |
| Till the Yankee soldiers beat them down at the battle of Churubusco |
| And fifteen men were whipped like mules |
| On the cheeks they were hot iron branded |
| Made to dig the graves of fifty more, who a hanging fate had handed |
| Chorus |
| John Riley stands and drinks alone in a bar in Vera Cruz |
| And he wonders if it matters much if you win or if you lose |
| "But I'm a man who can't go home, I'm a vagabond," says he |
| "I'm a victim of his wanderlust and divided loyalty" |
| Chorus |
| Adventure calls and some men run, and this is their sad story |
| Some get drunk on demon rum, some get drunk on demon rum |
| Some get drunk on demon rum and some get drunk on glory |