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Lyrics And Chords, William Gillespie written shortly after the actual event in 1920. Dr Henry Maturin JOHNSTON, born in 1851, was the fifth child and second son of a well-known Co. Cork practitioner, Dr Benjamin JOHNSTON, M.D. of Middleton and previously of Ramelton, Co Donegal. from archive.org
This is the Clancy's version. There are a number of differences, mainly place names.
Johnston's Motor Car
by William Gillespie
Twas [C] down by Brannigan’s Corner, one [F] morning [G] I did [C] stray.
I met a fellow rebel, and [F] to me he did [C] say,
“We’ve [C] orders from the captain to [F] assemble at Dun- [C] bar,
But how are we to get there, with- [F] out a [G] motor [C] car?”
“Oh Barney dear, be of good cheer, I’ll tell you what we’ll do.
The specials they are plentiful, the IRA are few,
We’ll send a wire to Johnson to meet us at Stranorlar
And we’ll give the lads a bloody good ride in Johnston’s Motor Car”
When Dr. Johnson heard the news he soon put on his shoes
He says this is an urgent case, there is no time to lose,
He then put on his castor hat and on his breast a star
You could hear the din all through Glenfin of Johnston’s Motor Car
But when he got to the railway bridge, some rebels he saw there
Old Johnson knew the game was up, for at him they did stare
He said “I have a permit, to travel near and far.”
“To hell with your English permit, we want your motor car.”
“What will my Loyal brethren think, when they hear the news,
My car has been commandeered, by the rebels at Dunluce.”
“We’ll give you a receipt for it, all signed by Captain Barr.
And when Ireland gets her freedom, boy, you’ll get your motor car.”
Well we put that car in motion and filled it to the brim,
With guns and bayonets shining which made old Johnson grim,
And Barney hoisted a Sinn Fein flag, and it fluttered like a star,
And we gave three cheers for the IRA and [F] Johnston’s [G7] Motor [C] Car.
[last verse from the original version]
When the Loyal brethen heard the news, it grieved their hearts full sore.
They said they would have reprisals, before they would give o'er.
They searched in vain through Glenties, through the Rosses and Kilcar,
While the IRA their flags displayed, on Johnston's Motor Car.
I met a fellow rebel, and [F] to me he did [C] say,
“We’ve [C] orders from the captain to [F] assemble at Dun- [C] bar,
But how are we to get there, with- [F] out a [G] motor [C] car?”
“Oh Barney dear, be of good cheer, I’ll tell you what we’ll do.
The specials they are plentiful, the IRA are few,
We’ll send a wire to Johnson to meet us at Stranorlar
And we’ll give the lads a bloody good ride in Johnston’s Motor Car”
When Dr. Johnson heard the news he soon put on his shoes
He says this is an urgent case, there is no time to lose,
He then put on his castor hat and on his breast a star
You could hear the din all through Glenfin of Johnston’s Motor Car
But when he got to the railway bridge, some rebels he saw there
Old Johnson knew the game was up, for at him they did stare
He said “I have a permit, to travel near and far.”
“To hell with your English permit, we want your motor car.”
“What will my Loyal brethren think, when they hear the news,
My car has been commandeered, by the rebels at Dunluce.”
“We’ll give you a receipt for it, all signed by Captain Barr.
And when Ireland gets her freedom, boy, you’ll get your motor car.”
Well we put that car in motion and filled it to the brim,
With guns and bayonets shining which made old Johnson grim,
And Barney hoisted a Sinn Fein flag, and it fluttered like a star,
And we gave three cheers for the IRA and [F] Johnston’s [G7] Motor [C] Car.
[last verse from the original version]
When the Loyal brethen heard the news, it grieved their hearts full sore.
They said they would have reprisals, before they would give o'er.
They searched in vain through Glenties, through the Rosses and Kilcar,
While the IRA their flags displayed, on Johnston's Motor Car.