Skibbereen

Oh, Father dear, I oft-times hear you talk of Erin’s Isle,
Her lofty scenes and valleys green, her mountains rude and wild,
They say it is a pretty place wherein a prince might dwell,
Then why did you abandon it? The reason to me tell.

My son, I loved our native land with energy and pride
Until a blight came on the land, and sheep and cattle died,
The rent and taxes were to pay, I could not them redeem,
And that’s the cruel reason why I left old Skibbereen.

It’s well I do remember that bleak December day
The landlord and the sheriff came to drive us all away,
They set my roof on fire with their demon yellow spleen,
And that’s another reason why I left old Skibbereen.

It’s well I do remember the year of forty-eight,
When I arose with Erin’s boys to fight against the fate,
I was hunted through the mountains for a traitor to the Queen,
And that’s another reason why I left old Skibbereen.

Oh, Father dear, the day will come when vengeance loud will call,
And we will rise with Erin’s boys to rally one and all,
I’ll be the man to lead the van beneath our flag of green,
And loud and high we’ll raise the cry: ‘Revenge for Skibbereen!’