[nickayary]

There are quite a few national anthems around the world that were penned during the wars that led to their country's foundation. Thus, they tend to have references to war and death.

Check out the Italian national anthem, for example. They repeatedly declare how they're ready to die.

That's definitely true of the Irish anthem that is an outright rebel song, 'A Soldier's Song.'

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.

Chorus:
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 Amhrán na bhFiann - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

YouTube - Irish National Anthem-Croke Park