It fell upon a holy day as many in the year
Musgrave to the church did go to see fine ladies there
some were dressed in velvet red and some in velvet grey
then in came Lord Barnards wife the fairest among them all
She cast an eye on Little Musgrave as bright as the Summer's sun
said Musgrave unto himself this Lady's heart I've won
I have loved you Little Musgrave full long and manys the day
and I have loved you Fair Lady and never a word did say
I have a bower in Bucklesfordberry its my heart's delight
I'll take you back there with me and lie in your arms all night
But standing by was a little footpage from the Lady's coach he ran
although I am a lady's page I am Lord Barnard's man

My Lord Barnard shall hear of this whether I sink or swim
and every where the bridge was broken he'd enter the water and swim
My Lord Barnard my Lord Barnard you are a man of life
But Musgrave is at Bucklesfordberry asleep with your wedded wife
If this be true my Little musgrave this thing that you tell me ]
all the gold in Bucklesfordberry I gladly will give to thee
But if this be a lie my little footpage this thing that you tell me
From the highest tree in Bucklesfordberry hanged you will be
go saddle me the black he said go saddle me the grey
sound you not your horns he said lest our coming you'd betray
but there was a man in Lord Barnard's train who loved the Little Musgrave
he blew his horn both loud and shrill. Away Musgrave Away!
I think I hear the morning cock I think I hear the jay
I think I hear Lord Barnards men I wish I was away

Lie still lie still my Little Musgrave and hug me from the cold
'tis nothing but a sheperd lad a bringing his flock to fold
is not your hawk upon his perch your steed eats oats and hay
You a lady in your arms why would you go away
so he turned her round and kissed her twice and then they fell
when they awoke Lord barnard's men were standing at their feet
how do you like my bed he said and how do you like my sheets
How do you like My fair Lady that lies in your arms asleep
Tis well I like your bed he said and full great it gives me pain
I'd gladly give a hundred pounds to be on yonder Plain

Rise up rise up Little Musgrave rise up and then put on
it'll not be said in this country I slayed a naked man
Slowly slowly he got up and slowly he put on
Slowly down the stairs thinking he'd be slain
there are 2 swords down by my side full dear they cost my purse
you can have the best of them and i will have the worst
and the first sstroke Little Musgrave struck it hurt Lord Barnard sore
but the next stroke Lord Barnard struck Little Musgrave ne'er struck more
Then up spoke the lady fair from the bed whereon she lay
although youre dead my Little Musgrave still for you I'll pray

How do you like his cheeks he said and how do you like his chin
how do you like his fair lady now theres no life within
Tis more I like his cheeks sshe cried and more I love his chin
its more I want his dead body then all your kith and kin
He's taken out his long long sword to strike the mortal blow
through and through the Lady's heart the cold steel it did go
A grave a grave kord Barnard cried to put these lovers in
with my Lady on the upper hand for she scame from better kin
For I've just killed the finest man that ever rode a steed
and I've just killed the finest lady that ever did a woman's deed
It fell upon a holy day as manys in the year
Little Musgrave to the church did go to see fine Ladies there

Will you come to the bower o'er the free boundless ocean
Where the stupendous waves roll in thundering motion,
Where the mermaids are seen and the fierce tempest gathers,
To loved Erin the green, the dear land of our fathers."
Will you come, will you, will you, will you come to the bower?

Will you come, will you, will you, will you come to the bower?

Will you come to the land of O'Neill and O'Donnell
Of Lord Lucan of old and immortal O'Connell.
Where Brian drove the Danes and Saint Patrick the vermin
And whose valleys remain still most beautiful and charming?
You can visit Benburb and the storied Blackwater,
Where Owen Roe met Munroe and his Chieftains did slaughter
Where the lambs skip and play on the mossy all over,
From those bright golden views to enchanting Rostrevor.
You can see Dublin city, and the fine groves of Blarney
The Bann, Boyne, and Liffey and the Lakes of Killarney,
You may ride on the tide on the broad majestic Shannon
You may sail round Loch Neagh and see storied Dungannon.
You can visit New Ross, gallant Wexford, and Gorey,
Where the green was last seen by proud Saxon and Tory,
Where the soil is sanctified by the blood of each true man
Where they died satisfied that their enemies they would not run
from.
Will you come and awake our lost land from its slumber
And her fetters we'll break, links that long are encumbered.
And the air will resound with hosannahs to greet you
On the shore will be found gallant Irishmen to greet you.

By a lonely prison wall
I heard a sweet voice calling,
"Michael, they have taken you away.
For you stole Travelian's corn,
That your babes might see the morn,
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay."
Chorus
Fair lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small freebirds fly.
Our love grew with the spring,
We had dreams and songs to sing
As we wandered through the fields of Athenry.
By a lonely prison wall
I heard a young man calling
"Nothing matters, Jenny, when you're free
Against the famine and the crown,
I rebelled, they ran me down,
Now you must raise our children without me."
Chorus
On the windswept harbour wall,
She watched the last star rising
As the prison ship sailed out across the sky
But she'll watch and hope and pray,
For her love in Botany Bay
Whilst she is lonely in the fields of Athenry.
Whilst she is lonely in the fields of Athenry.

'Twas down by the glenside, I met an old woman
She was picking young nettles and she scarce saw me coming
I listened awhile to the song she was humming
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men

'Tis fifty long years since I saw the moon beaming
On strong manly forms and their eyes with hope gleaming
I see them again, sure, in all my daydreaming
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men.

Some died on the glenside, some died near a stranger
And wise men have told us that their cause was a failure
They fought for old Ireland and they never feared danger
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men

I passed on my way, God be praised that I met her
Be life long or short, sure I'll never forget her
We may have brave men, but we'll never have better
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men

On the fourth of July, 1806,
We set sail from the sweet cove of Cork,
We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks,
For the grand city hall in New York.
'Twas an elegant craft, she was rigged fore and aft,
And how the wild wind drove her,
She could stand a great blast in her 27 masts,
And we called her the Irish Rover.

We had one million bags of the best Sligo rags,
We had two million barrells of stones,
We had 3 million sides of old blind horses hides,
We had 4 million barrels of bone.
We had 5 million hogs, 6 million dogs,
Seven million barrels of porter,
We had 8 million bales of old nanny goat tails,
In the hold of the Irish Rover.

There was Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee,
There was Hogan from County Tyrone,
There was Johnny McGuirk who was scared stiff of work,
And a chap from WestMeath called Malone.
There was Slugger O' Toole who was drunk as a rule,
And fighting Bill Tracey from Dover.
There was Dolan from Clare, just as strong as a bear,
All aboard on the Irish Rover.

We had sailed 7 years when the measels broke out,
And our ship lost its way in the fog.
The the whole of the crew was reduced down to two,
Just myself and the captain's old dog.
The ship struck a rock, Lord what a shock,
The boat, it was flipped right over,
Turned nine times around and the poor old dog was drowned,
I'm the last of the Irish Rover.

Well jimmy played harmonica in the pub where I was born
He played it from the night time to the peaceful early morn
He soothed the souls of psychos and the men who had the horn
And they all looked very happy in the morning

Now jimmy didnt like his place in this world of ours
Where the elephant man broke strong mens necks
When hed had too many powers
So sad to see the grieving of the people that hes leaving
And he took the road for God knows in the morning
We walked him to the station in the rain
We kissed him as we put him on the train
And we sang him a song of times long gone
Though we knew that wed be seeing him again

(far away) sad to say I must be on my way
So buy me beer and whiskey cause Im going far away (far away)
Id like to think of me returning when I can
To the greatest little boozer and to sally maclennane

The years passed by the times had changed I grew to be a man
I learned to love the virtues of sweet sally maclennane
I took the jeers and drank the beers and crawled back home at dawn
And ended up a barman in the morning

I played the pump and took the hump and watered whiskey down
I talked of whores and horses to the men who drank the brown
I heard them say that jimmys making money far away
And some people left for heaven without warning
We walked him to the station in the rain
We kissed him as we put him on the train
And we sang him a song of times long gone
Though we knew that wed be seeing him again
(far away) sad to say I must be on my way
So buy me beer and whiskey cause Im going far away (far away)
Id like to think of me returning when I can
To the greatest little boozer and to sally maclennane

When jimmy came back home he was surprised that they were gone
He asked me all the details of the train that they went on
Some people they are scared to croak but jimmy drank until he choked
And he took the road for heaven in the morning
We walked him to the station in the rain
We kissed him as we put him on the train
And we sang him a song of times long gone
Though we knew that wed be seeing him again
(far away) sad to say I must be on my way
So buy me beer and whiskey cause Im going far away (far away)
Id like to think of me returning when I can
To the greatest little boozer and to sally maclennane

Have you heard about the big strong man?
he lives in a caravan
have you heard about the Jeffery Johnson fight
it’s one hell of a fight
you can take every heavy weight you’ve got
we’ve got a lad who can beat the whole lot
he used to ring the bells in the belfry
now he's gonna fight Jack Dempsey...

CHORUS; He was my brother Sylvest (shout-What’s he got?)
A row of forty medals on his chest (Big Chest!)
he killed fifty badmen in the west
he knew no rest,
thinkin’ a man’s hell firedon’t push, just shove, plenty of room for you and me
he’s got an arm (Got an Arm!)
like a leg (Like a leg!)
and a punch that can sick a battle ship (Big Ship!)
it takes all the army and the navy
to put the wind up Sylvest

Well he’d thought he’d take a trip to Italy
he thought he’d take a trip by sea
he jumped in the harbour in New York
swam like a great big ould shark
he saw the Lusitania in distress (What’d he do?)
He put the Lusitania on his chest (Big Chest!)
drank up all the water in the sea and walked all the way to Italy
CHORUS

Well he thought he’d take a trip to old Japan
they brought out the big brass band
he played every instrument they had (What a lad!)
he played the whole lot
Well the church bells all will ring (Ding Dong)
and the church choirs all will sing (LAAAAA!)
they’ll all come out to bid farewell to my big brother Sylvest
CHORUS

I had a true love if ever a girl had one
I had a true love a brave lad was he
One fine Easter Monday with his gallant comrades
He started away for to make Ireland free

Chorus:
For all around my hat I wear a tri-coloured ribbon, oh
All around my hat until death comes to me
And if anybody's asking me why do I wear it
It's all for my own true love I never more will see

He whispered "Goodbye love, old Ireland is calling
High over Dublin our Tri-colour flies
In the streets of the city the foe man is falling
And wee birds are whistling "Old Ireland arise"

Chorus:
His bandloier around him, his bright bayonet shining
His short service rifle, a beauty to see
There was joy in his eyes, though he left me repining
And started away for to make Ireland free

Chorus:
In praying and watching the dark hours passed over
The roar of the guns brought no message to me
I prayed for Old Ireland, I prayed for my lover
That he might be safe and Old Ireland be free

Chorus:
The struggle was ended, they brought me the story
The last whispered message he sent unto me
"I was true to my land, love, I fought for her glory
And gave up my life for to make Ireland free"

I danced in the morning When the world was begun
And I danced in the moon And the stars and the sun
And I came down from heaven And I danced on the earth
At Bethlehem I had my birth.

Dance, then, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said he

I danced for the scribe And the pharisee
But they would not dance And they wouldn't follow me
I danced for the fishermen For James and John
They came with me And the Dance went on
Chorus

I danced on the Sabbath And I cured the lame
The holy people Said it was a shame
They whipped and they stripped And they hung me on high
And they left me there On a Cross to die
Chorus

I danced on a Friday When the sky turned black
It's hard to dance With the devil on your back
They buried my body And they thought I'd gone
But I am the Dance And I still go on
Chorus

They cut me down And I leapt up high
I am the life That'll never never die
I'll live in you If you'll live in me
I am the Lord Of the Dance said he
Chorus

The harp that once through Tara's Hall the soul of music shed
Now hangs as mute on Tara's wall as if that soul were fled
So sleeps the pride of former days so glory's thrill is o'er
And hearts that once beat high for praise now feel that pulse no more

No more to chiefs and ladies bright, the harp of Tara swells
The chord alone, that breaks at night, its tale of ruin tells
This freedom now so seldom wakes, the only throb she gives
Is when some heart indignant breaks, to show that still she lives

As I rode down to Galway town to seek for recreation
On the seventeenth of August me mind being elevated
There were multitudes assembled with their tickets at the station
Me eyes began to dazzle and I'm goin' to see the races
Chorus:With your whack-fa-the-da-for-the-diddle-ee-iddle-day

There were passengers from Limerick and passengers from Nenagh
And passengers from Dublin and sportsmen from Tipperary
There were passengers from Kerry, and all quarters of our nation
And our member, Mr. Hearst, for to join the Galway Blazers

There were multitudes from Aran, and members from New Quay shore
Boys from Connemara and the Clare unmarried maidens
There were people from Cork city, who were loyal, true and faithful
Who brought home the Fenian prisoners from diverse foreign nations

It's there you'll see confectioners with sugarsticks and dainties
The lozenges and oranges, the lemonade and raisins!
The gingerbread and spices to accomodate the ladies
And a big crubeen for thruppence to be pickin' while you're able

It's there you'll see the gamblers, the thimbles and the garters
And the spotting Wheel of Fortune with the four and twenty quarters
There was others without scruple pelting wattles at poor Maggy
And her father well-contented and he lookin' at his daughter

It's there you'll see the pipers and the fiddlers competing
The nimble footed dancers a-tripping over the daisies
There were others crying cigars and lights and bills for all the races
With the colors of the jockeys and the prize and horses' ages

It's there you'll see the jockeys and they're mounted out so stately
The pink, the blue, the orange, and green, the emblem of our nation
When the bell was rung for starting, all the horses seemed impatient
I thought they never stood on ground their speed was so amazing

There was half a million people there from all denominations
The Catholic, the Protestant, the Jew, and Presbyterian
There was yet no animosity, no matter what persuasion
But "failte" and hospitality inducin' fresh acquaintance

Last Sunday night, we had no dough
So I took the moth up to see the zoo
We saw the lions and the kangaroos
Inside the zoological gardens

Thunder and Lightening is no lark
When Dublin city is in the dark
If you've got any money, go up to the park
And view the zoological gardens

Well we went out there by Castleknock
Said the moth to me, "Sure now we court by the lough"
Then I knew she was one of the rare old stock
Inside the zoological gardens

Well we went out there on our honeymoon
Said the moth to me, "If you don't come home soon
You'll have to sleep with a hairy baboon!"
Inside the Zoological Gardens

Have you ever been in love, me boys?
Oh! have you felt the pain?
I'd rather be in jail, me boys
Than be in love again
For the girl I loved was beautifulI'd have you all to know
And I met her in the gardenWhere the praties grow
Chorus:
She was just the sort of creature, boys
That nature did intend
To walk right through the world, me boys
Without a Grecian Bend
Nor did she wear a chignon
I'd have you all to know
And I met her in the gardenWhere the praties grow
Said I, "My pretty/lovely colleen
I hope you'll pardon me/hope that you agree"
And she wasn't like the city girlsWho'd say
"You're making free"
She looked at me right modestly/honestlyAnd curtsied very low
"Sure, you're welcome in the gardenWhere the praties grow"
Chorus
Says I, "My lovely darling/pretty Colleen
I'm tired of single life
And if you've no objections
I will make you my sweet wife.
"Says she, "I'll ask my parents And tomorrow I'll let you know
If you'll meet me in the gardenWhere the praties grow"
Chorus
Her parents they consented
And we're blessed with children three:
Two girls just like their mother
And a boy the image of me
We'll train them up in decency
The way they ought to go
And we'll send them to the gardenWhere the praties grow
Chorus

In the East End of London, I met an old man.
He kept a bar called the Horses and Tram.
"My parents were Irish. They loved that dear land,"
The Cockney, he smiled, then he shook my old hand.

Chorus; "My heart is in Ireland, it's there I long to be.
Her hills and her valleys are calling to me.
Though born here in this land, my heart is in Ireland.
The land of the old folks is calling to me."

Near a coal mine in Wales, by a roadside cafe,
A young girl came smiling, and to me did say,
"Well, my folks are from Ireland. My Da', he hopes one day
When he leaves the mines, sure we'll go back to stay.""

Chorus

Then I went through the Midlands, through each city and town.
I found there were Irish in each place I roamed.
And I drank and I sang at a pub they call the Crown.
With the Birmingham irish, we sang songs of home.

Chorus

Then I went north to Scotland, to Glasgow on the Clyde.
I met with some young lads. They said, "Celtic's our side.
All our folks are from Ireland, the island of the green.
A country we love, but a place we've not seen."

Chorus

You may travel far far from your own native land
Far away o'er the mountains, far away o'er the foam
But of all the fine places that I've ever been
Sure there's none can compare with the cliffs of Doneen.
Take a view o'er the mountains, fine sights you'll see there
You'll see the high rocky mountains o'er the west coast of Clare
Oh the town of Kilkee and Kilrush can be seen
From the high rocky slopes round the cliffs of Doneen.
It's a nice place to be on a fine summer's day
Watching all the wild flowers that ne'er do decay
Oh the hares and lofty pheasants are plain to be seen
Making homes for their young round the cliffs of Doneen.
Fare thee well to Doneen, fare thee well for a while
And to all the kind people I'm leaving behind
To the streams and the meadows where late I have been
And the high rocky slopes round the cliffs of Doneen

I'll take you home again, Kathleen
Across the ocean wild and wide
To where your heart has ever been
Since you were first my bonnie bride.
The roses all have left your cheek.
I've watched them fade away and die
Your voice is sad when e'er you speak
And tears bedim your loving eyes.

Oh! I will take you back, Kathleen
To where your heart will feel no pain
And when the fields are fresh and green
I'II take you to your home again!

I know you love me, Kathleen, dear
Your heart was ever fond and true.
I always feel when you are near
That life holds nothing, dear, but you.
The smiles that once you gave to me
I scarcely ever see them now
Though many, many times I see
A dark'ning shadow on your brow.
To that dear home beyond the sea
My Kathleen shall again return.
And when thy old friends welcome thee
Thy loving heart will cease to yearn.
Where laughs the little silver stream
Beside your mother's humble cot
And brightest rays of sunshine gleam
There all your grief will be forgot

The Broad Majestic Shannon is a classic written by our very own Shane McGowan in 1988.

The last time I saw you was down at the Greeks
There was whiskey on Sunday and tears on our cheeks
You sang me a song as pure as the breeze
Blowing up the road to Glenaveigh
I sat for a while at the cross at Finnoe
Where young lovers would meet when the flowers were in bloom
Heard the men coming home from the fair at Shinrone
Their hearts in Tipperary wherever they go

Take my hand, and dry your tears babe
Take my hand, forget your fears babe
There's no pain, there's no more sorrow
They're all gone, gone in the years babe

I sat for a while by the gap in the wall
Found a rusty tin can and an old hurley ball
Heard the cards being dealt, and the rosary called
And a fiddle playing Sean Dun na nGall
And the next time I see you we'll be down at the Greeks
There'll be whiskey on Sunday and tears on our cheeks
For it's stupid to laugh and it's useless to bawl
About a rusty tin can and an old hurley ball

So I walked as day was dawning
Where small birds sang and leaves were falling
Where we once watched the row boats landing
By the broad majestic Shannon

Just give me your hand
Tabhair dom do lámh
Just give me your hand
And I'll walk with you
Through the streets of our land
Through the mountains so grand
If you give me your hand
Just give me your hand
And come along with me
Will you give me your hand
And the world it can see
That we can be free
In peace and harmony?
From the north to the south
From the east to the west
Every mountain, every valley
Every bush and birds nest!

Just give me your hand
Tabhair dom do lámh
Just give me your hand
For the world it is ours
All the sea and the land
To destroy or command
If you give me your hand
Just give me your hand
In a gesture of peace
Will you give me your hand
And all troubles will cease
For the strong and the weak
For the rich and the poor?
All peoples and creeds
Let's meet their needs
With a passion, we can fashion
A new world of love!

Chorus:
By day and night
Through all struggle and strife
And beside you, to guide you
Forever, my love
For love's not for one
But for both of us to share
For our country so fair
For our world and what's there

Once upon a time there was,
Irish ways and Irish laws
Villages of Irish Blood,
awaking to the morning, awaking to the morning.

Then the Vikings came around,
turned us up & turned us down,
Started buildings huts and towns,
They tried to change our living, tried to change our living.

Cromwell and his soldiers came,
started centuries of shame,
But they could not make us turn,
we are a river flowing, we are a riverflowing.

Again, again the soldiers came,
burnt our houses, stole our grain,
Shot the farmers in their fields,
Working for a living, working for a living.

Eight hundred years we have been down,
The secret of the water sound,
Has kept the spirit of a man,
Above the pain descending, above the pain descending.

Today the struggle carries on,
I wonder will I live so long,
To see the gates being opened up,
To a people & their freedom, a people & their freedom.

Once upon a time there was,
Irish ways and Irish laws
Villages of Irish Blood,
awaking to the morning, awaking to the morning.

One summer evening drunk to hell
I stood there nearly lifeless
An old man in the corner sang
Where the water lilies grow
And on the jukebox johnny sang
About a thing called love
And its how are you kid and whats your name
And how would you bloody know?
In blood and death neath a screaming sky
I lay down on the ground
And the arms and legs of other men
Were scattered all around
Some cursed, some prayed, some prayed then cursed
Then prayed and bled some more
And the only thing that I could see
Was a pair of brown eyes that was looking at me
But when we got back, labeled parts one to three
There was no pair of brown eyes waiting for me
And a rovin a rovin a rovin Ill go
For a pair of brown eyes
I looked at him he looked at me
All I could do was hate him
While ray and philomena sang
Of my elusive dream
I saw the streams, the rolling hills
Where his brown eyes were waiting
And I thought about a pair of brown eyes
That waited once for me
So drunk to hell I left the place
Sometimes crawling sometimes walking
A hungry sound came across the breeze
So I gave the walls a talking
And I heard the sounds of long ago
From the old canal
And the birds were whistling in the trees
Where the wind was gently laughing
And a rovin a rovin a rovin Ill go
For a pair of brown eyes

In 1803 we sailed out to sea
Out from the sweet town of Derry
For Australia bound if we didn't all drown
And the marks of our fetters we carried
In rusty iron chains we sighed for our wains
As our good wives we left home in sorrow
As the mainsails unfurled our curses we hurled
On the English and thoughts of tomorrow

Chorus:
Oh, I wish I was back home in Derry
Oh, I wish I was back home in Derry

I cursed them to hell as our bow fought the swell
Our ship danced like a moth in the firelight
White horses rode high as the devil passed by
Taking souls to Hades by twilight
Five weeks out to sea, we were now forty-three
Our comrades we buried each morning
And in our own slime we were lost in a time
Of endless nights without dawning

Chorus

Van Dieman's land is a hell for a man
To live out his life in slavery
Where the climate is raw and the gun makes the law
Neither wind nor rain cares for bravery
Twenty years have gone by and I've ended my bond
And comrades' ghosts are behind me
A rebel I came and I'll die just the same
On the cold winds of night you will find me

Chorus

My name is Macnamara,
I'm the leader of a band,
And though we're small in number,
We're the best in all the land.

Of course l'm the conductor
And l've often had to play
With all the fine musicians
That you read about today.

Chorus: The drums they bang, the cymbals clang,
The horns they blaze away,
Macarthy puffs the ould bassoon,
Doyle (And I) the pipes does play.

Hennessey tuteily tootles the flute,
The music is something grand,
And a credit to ould Ireland's boys
Is Macnamara's Band.

Whenever an election's on
We play on either side,
And the way we play the fine ould airs
Fills every heart with pride.

If dear Tom Moore was living now
He'd make them understand
That none can do him justice
Like ould Macnamara's Band.

We play for fairs or weddings
And for every County Ball,
And at any great man's funeral
We play "The Dead March in Saul."

When General Grant to Ireland came
He shook me by the hand,
And said he never heard the like
Of ould Macnamara's Band.

Just now we are practicing
For a very grand affair,
It's an annual celebration,
All the gentry will be there.

The girls and boys will all turn out
With flags and colours grand,
And in front of the procession
Will be Macnamara's Band.

This song was written by Barry Moore, who took the stage name Luka Bloom (Luka after the song Luka by Suzanne Vega and Bloom, from James Joyce’s Ulysses), to make his own path, outside of his famous brother, Christy Moore, who, ironically, had a much bigger hit with his own recording of Luka’s song.It talks of the Irish emigration and the search for a new home after the Famine in which millions of people died or emigrated from Ireland.

To the City of Chicago,

As the evening shadows fall,

There are people dreaming,

Of the hills of Donegal.

Eighteen forty seven,

Was the year it all began,

Deadly Pains of hunger,

Drove a million from the land,

They journeyed not for glory,

Their motive wasn’t greed,

Just a voyage of survival,

Across the stormy sea.

To the City of Chicago,

As the evening shadows fall,

There are people dreaming,

Of the hills of Donegal.

Some of them knew fortune,

And some them knew fame,

More of them knew hardship,

And died upon the plain,

They spread throughout the nation,

Rode the railroad cars,

Brought their songs and music,

To ease their lonely hearts.

To the City of Chicago,

As the evening shadows fall,

There are people dreaming,

Of the hills of Donegal.

On 3rd August 1916, Irish patriot, Roger Casement, was executed in London. The Lonely Banna Strand tells of his struggle.

'Twas on Good Friday Morning all in the month of May
A German ship was signaled beyond there in the bay.
We've twenty thousand rifles here all ready for to land
But no answering signal came from the lonely Banna Strand.

A motor-car was dashing through the early morning gloom,
A sudden crash, and in the sea they went to meet their doom
Two Irish lads lay dying there just like their hopes so grand
They could not give the signal now from lonely Banna Strand.'

No signal answers from the shore,' Sir Roger sadly said,
'No comrades here to welcome me, alas! they must be dead;
But I must do my duty and at once I mean to land,'
So in a boat he pulled ashore to lonely Banna Strand.

The German ships were lying there with rifles in galore.
Up came a British ship and spoke, 'No Germans reach the shore;
You are our Empire's enemy, and so we bid you stand.
No German foot shall e'er pollute the lonely Banna Strand.

'They sailed for Queenstown Harbour. Said the Germans: 'We're undone
The British are our masters man for man and gun for gun.
We've twenty thousand rifles here, but they never will reach land.
We'll sink them all and bid farewell to lonely Banna Strand.

'The R.I. C. were hunting for Sir Roger high and low,
They found him at McKenna's Fort, said they: 'You are our foe.'
Said he, 'I'm Roger Casement, I came to my native land,
I meant to free my countrymen on the lonely Banna Strand.'

They took Sir Roger prisoner and sailed for London Tower,
And in the Tower they laid him as a traitor to the Crown.
Said he, 'I m no traitor,' but his trial he had to stand.
For bringing German rifles to the lonely Banna Strand.

'Twas in an English prison that they led him to his death.
'I'm dying for my country,' he said with his last breath.
He's buried in a prison yard far from his native land
The wild waves sing his Requiem on the lonely Banna Strand.

In Dublin's fair city,
Where girls are so pretty,
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone,
As she pushed her wheelbarrow
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh"!

Chorus:Alive, alive oh! alive, alive oh!
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh"!

Now she was a fishmonger,
And sure twas no wonder,
For so were her mother and father before,
And they each wheeled their barrow,
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh"!
Chorus:

She died of a fever,
And no one could save her,
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone.
Now her ghost wheels her barrow,
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh"!
Chorus:

As down the glen one Easter morn to a city fair rode I
There Armed lines of marching men in squadrons passed me by
No fife did hum nor battle drum did sound it's dread tatoo
But the Angelus bell o'er the Liffey swell rang out through the foggy dew

Right proudly high over Dublin Town they hung out the flag of war
'Twas better to die 'neath an Irish sky than at Sulva or Sud El Bar
And from the plains of Royal Meath strong men came hurrying through
While Britannia's Huns, with their long range guns sailed in through the foggy dew

'Twas Britannia bade our Wild Geese go that small nations might be free
But their lonely graves are by Sulva's waves or the shore of the Great North Sea
Oh, had they died by Pearse's side or fought with Cathal Brugha
Their names we will keep where the fenians sleep 'neath the shroud of the foggy dew

But the bravest fell, and the requiem bell rang mournfully and clear
For those who died that Eastertide in the springing of the year
And the world did gaze, in deep amaze, at those fearless men, but few
Who bore the fight that freedom's light might shine through the foggy dew

Ah, back through the glen I rode again and my heart with grief was sore
For I parted then with valiant men whom I never shall see more
But to and fro in my dreams I go and I'd kneel and pray for you,
For slavery fled, O glorious dead, When you fell in the foggy dew.

In a neat little town they call Belfast
Apprentice to trade I was bound
And many an hour of sweet happiness
I spent in that neat little town
Till bad misfortune befell me
And caused me to stray from the land
Far away from my friends and relations
To follow the black velvet band

Chorus: And her eyes they shone like diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band

I took a stroll down Broadway, meaning not long for to stay
When who should I meet but this pretty fair maid comes a tripping along the highway
She was both fair and handsome, her neck it was just like a swans
And her hair it hung over her shoulder, tied up with a black velvet band

Chorus:And her eyes they shone like diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band

I took a stroll with this pretty fair maid, when a gentleman's passing us by
Well I knew she meant the doing of him, by the look in her rougish black eye
A goldwatch she took from his pocket and placed it right into my hand
And the very first thing that I said was bad luck to your black velvet band

Chorus:And her eyes they shone like diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band

Before the judge and the jury, next morning I had to appear
The judge he says to me: Young man, your case it is proven clear
I'll give you seven years penal servitude, to be spent faraway from the land
Far away from your friends and companions, betrayed by the black velvet band

Chorus:And her eyes they shone like diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band

So come all ye jolly young fellows a warning take by me
When you are out on the town me lads, beware of them pretty colleens
For they feed you with whiskey and porter, 'til you are unable to stand
And the very next thing that you'll know you're landed in Van Diemens land

Chorus:And her eyes they shone like diamonds
You'd think she was queen of the land
And her hair hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band