[Intro — 2-4 seconds max. Soft Irish flute.] Can ya hear the battle cry? Can ya hear the cannons roar? [Short instrumental build — EXACTLY 2–3 seconds. Harmonica holds a single sustained note. Low drone swells. THE MOMENT the second line ends (“Can ya hear the cannons roar?”), the MILITARY MARCHING DRUMS MUST ENTER IMMEDIATELY — no fade‑in, no delay. Begin a soft but steady marching cadence at once. Irish flute doubles the marching rhythm. Add faint brass stabs ONLY for urgency.] “Never give up, boys! Steady arms — rifles at the ready! Forward at the march! Forward at the run!” [Brief pause — 1 second, drums continue softly] Hand-to-hand, rifle and gun, we braced each other, as I looked him in his eyes — His terrified eyes. [Percussion softens — emotional drop begins. Snare drops out. Low drums fade to heartbeat‑slow. Harmonica takes over the lead line.] Then I saw his fear — one final tear — before he died. Was that my brother's final breath? [Interlude — all drums fade out. Harp + harmonica + soft fiddle only. Tempo slows.] It was not long before I fell, and how I cried. Now this war is done and the battle's won. [Quiet Verse — still no drums. Harmonica + fiddle duet, very soft.] “You’re one of the lucky ones,” they said — “You’re going home. You did not die,” they said. [Homecoming Verse — frontier soundscape. Irish flute enters. Light frontier percussion returns (sticks or spoons). Warm fiddle underlines the melody.] Traveling home on a lonely train... Home again ta see yer ma, ta see yer wife. I remember they said, "You’ll stand one day, you’ll walk again, you might ride that trail again someday… [Soft instrumental pause — 1–2 seconds. Single flute or harmonica notes only.] But, was that your brother you left behind, Way back there on that bloody battlefield?" [Final Refrain — percussion stays OUT at first. Harmonica leads. Fiddle harmonics shimmer like ghosts.] Though I'm far away on my lonely trail. I can still hear those canons roar — Oh, I still hear those battle cries — [Outro — soft snare ghost‑notes. Low drum heartbeat. Harmonica bends into silence.] "Steady arms, lads! Rifles at the ready… Never give up, boys… No... don't you never give up... Never give up!"