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Thin Lizzy - Emerald
Down from the glen came the marching men
With their shields and their swords
To fight the fight they believed to be right
Overthrow the overlords
To the town where there was plenty
They brought plunder, swords and flame
When they left the town was empty
Children would never play again
From their graves I heard the fallen
Above the battle cry
By that bridge near the border
There were many more to die
Then onward over the mountain
And outward towards the sea
They had come to claim the emerald
Without it they could not leave
According to Phil Lynott biographer Mark Putterford, the group composition "Emerald" was "the last word on the author's burning fascination with Irish history, a blood-curdling clash of steel and morality embedded upon a spectacular Gaelic guitar riff". Lyricist Lynott, the band's leader, front man and principal writer had a lifelong fascination with the history and legends of the Emerald Isle, in spite of being not only half black but technically an Englishman. The song is certainly one of his and their finer efforts with the trademark Lizzy duel guitar lead. "Emerald" was released as the B Side of "The Boys Are Back In Town" on the Vertigo label in April 1976.
