No Irish Need Apply

I’m a simple Irish girl, and I’m looking for a place,
I’ve felt the grip of poverty, but sure that’s no disgrace,
‘Twill be long before I get one, tho’ indeed it’s hard I try,
For I read in each advertisement, ‘No Irish need apply.’
Alas! for my poor country, which I never will deny.
Now they insult us when they write, ‘No Irish need apply.’

Now I wonder what’s the reason that the fortune-favoured few,
Should throw on us that dirty slur, and treat us as they do,
Sure they all know Paddy’s heart is warm, and willing is his hand,
They rule us, yet we may not earn a living in their land,
O, to their sister country, how can they bread deny,
By sending forth this cruel line, ‘No Irish need apply.’

Sure I did not do the like when they anchor’d on our shore,
For Irish hospitality there’s no need to deplore,
And every door is open to the weary stranger still,
Pat would give his lust Potato, yes, and give it with a will,
Nor whisky, which he prizes so, in any case deny,
Then wherefore do they always write, ‘No Irish need apply.’

Now what have they against us, sure the world knows Paddy’s brave,
For he’s helped to fight their battles, both on land and on the wave,
At the storming of Sebastopol, and beneath an Indian sky,
Pat raised his head, for their General said, ‘All Irish might apply.’
Do you mind Lieutenant Massy, when he raised the battle cry?
They are they not ashamed to write, ‘No Irish need apply.’

Then they can’t deny us genius, with ‘Sheridan’—Tom Moore?
The late lamented ‘Catharine Hays,’ and Sam Lover to the fore,—
Altho’ they may laugh at our ‘Bulls,’ they cannot but admit,
That Pat is always sensible and has a ready wit,—
And if they ask for Beauty, what can beat their nice black eye?
Then is it not a shame to write, ‘No Irish need apply?’

Och! The French must loudly crow to find we’re slighted thus,
For they can ne’er forget the blow that was dealt by one of us,
If the Iron Duke of Wellington had never drawn his sword,
They might have had ‘Napoleon Sauce’ with their beef, upon my word,
They think now of their hero, dead; his name will never die.
Where will they get another such if ‘No Irish need apply.’

Ah! but now I’m in the land of the ‘Glorious and Free,’
And proud I am to own it, a country dear to me,
I can see by your kind faces, that you will not deny,
A place in your hearts for Kathleen, where ‘All Irish may apply.’
Then long may the Union flourish, and ever may it be,
A pattern to the world, and the ‘Home of Liberty!’