Chorus

Red is the rose that in yonder garden grows
Fair is the lily of the valley
Clear is the water that flows from the Boyne
But my love is fairer than any.

Come over the hills, my bonnie Irish lass
Come over the hills to your darling
You choose the rose, love, and I'll make the vow
And I'll be your true love forever.

'Twas down by Killarney's green woods that we strayed
When the moon and the stars they were shining
The moon shone its rays on her locks of golden hair
And she swore she'd be my love forever.

Chorus

It's not for the parting that my sister pains
It's not for the grief of my mother
'Tis all for the loss of my bonny Irish lass
That my heart is breaking forever.

Chorus

How oft do my thoughts in their fancy take flight
To the home of my childhood away,
To the days when each patriot's vision seem'd bright
Ere I dreamed that those joys should decay.
When my heart was as light as the wild winds that blow
Down the Mardyke through each elm tree,
Where I sported and play'd 'neath each green leafy shade
On the banks of my own lovely Lee.

And then in the springtime of laughter and song
Can I ever forget the sweet hours?
With the friends of my youth as we rambled along
'Mongst the green mossy banks and wild flowers.
Then too, when the evening sun's sinking to rest
Sheds its golden light over the sea
The maid with her lover the wild daisies pressed
On the banks of my own lovely Lee
The maid with her lover the wild daisies pressed
On the banks of my own lovely Lee

'Tis a beautiful land this dear isle of song
Its gems shed their light to the world
And her faithful sons bore thro' ages of wrong,
The standard St. Patrick unfurled.
Oh! would I were there with the friends I love best
And my fond bosom's partner with me
We'd roam thy banks over, and when weary we'd rest
By thy waters, my own lovely Lee,
We'd roam thy banks over, and when weary we'd rest
By thy waters, my own lovely Lee,

Oh what joys should be mine ere this life should decline
To seek shells on thy sea- girdled shore.
While the steel-feathered eagle, oft splashing the brine
Brings longing for freedom once more.
Oh all that on earth I wish for or crave
Is that my last crimson drop be for thee,
To moisten the grass of my forefathers' grave
On the banks of my own lovely Lee
To moisten the grass of my forefathers' grave
On the banks of my own lovely Lee.

Twenty years ago today,
since I first sailed away,
And left my dear old home so far behind,
But since that lonely journey my heart has always yearned,
My happy home in Laois once more to find. 

Chorus

Lovely Laois ,I hear you calling in my dreams I hear you say,
come back home to dear old Ireland, lovely Laois 
I'll come back to you some day

chorus
Lim'rick, you're a lady
Your Shannon waters tears of joy that flow
The beauty that surrounds you
I'll take it with me love where e'er I go.
While waking in the arms of distant waters
A new day finds me far away from home.
And Lim'rick, you're my lady
The one true love that I have ever known

As children you and I spend endless days of fun
In Winter's snow or Summer's golden sun
We fished in silver streams, the fabric of our dreams
Was fashioned by your loveliness and so I have to say.

chorus

The difference time has made, to travellers on their way
Seeking out the beauty of our lands,
At shrines the children play and bells ring out to say,
Thank God we're living just to feel the freedom of each day

chorus

While waking in the arms of distant waters
A new day finds me far away from home.
And Lim'rick, you're my lady
The one true love that I have ever known

My feet are here on Broadway
This blessed harvest morn,
But oh! the ache that’s in my heart
For the spot where I was born.
My weary hands are blistered
Through work in cold and heat!
And oh! to swing a scythe once more
Through a field of Irish wheat.
Had I the chance to wander back,
Or own a king’s abode.
I’d sooner see the hawthorn tree
By the Old Bog Road. 

When I was young and restless
My mind was ill at ease,
Through dreaming of America,
And the gold beyond the seas.
Oh, sorrow rake their money,
‘Tis hard to find the same,
And what’s the world to any man
If no one speaks his name.
I’ve had my day and here I am
A-building bricks per load.
A long three thousand miles away
From the Old Bog Road. 

My mother died last springtime,
When Erin’s fields were green.
The neighbours said her waking
Was the finest ever seen.
There were snowdrops and primroses
Piled high above her bed,
And Ferns Church was crowded
When her funeral Mass was read.
And here was I on Broadway
A-building bricks per load.
When they carried out her coffin
Down the old Bog Road. 

There was a decent girl at home
Who used to walk with me.
Her eyes were soft and sorrowful
Like moonlight o’er the sea.
Her name was Mary Dwyer,
But that was long ago.
The ways of God are wiser
Than the things that man might know.
She died the day I left her,
A-building bricks per load,
I’d best forget the days I’ve spent
On the old Bog Road. 

Ah! Life’s a weary puzzle,
Past finding out by man,
I’ll take the day for what it’s worth
And do the best I can.
Since no one cares a rush for me
What need is there to moan,
I’ll go my way and draw my pay
And smoke my pipe alone.
Each human heart must bear its grief
Though bitter be the ‘bode
So God be with you, Ireland,
And the Old Bog Road.

In my memory I will always see
The town that I have loved so well
Where our school played ball by the Gasyard wall
And we laughed through the smoke and the smell
Going home in the rain, running up the dark lane
Past the jail and down behind the fountain
Those were happy days, in so many, many ways
In the town I loved so well

In the early morning the Shirt Factory horn
Called women from Creggan, The Moor and The Bog
While the men on the dole played a mother's role
Fed the children, and then walked the dog
And when times got rough there was just about enough
But they saw it through without complaining
For deep inside was a burning pride
For the town I love so well

There was music there in the Derry air
Like a language that we all could understand
I remember the day, when I earned my first pay
As I played in the small pick-up band
Its there I spent my youth, and to tell you the truth
I was sad to leave it all behind me
For I'd learned about life and I'd found me a wife
In the town I loved so well

But when I returned, how my eyes were burned
To see how a town could be brought to its knees
By the armoured cars and the bombed out bars
And the gas that hangs on to every breeze
Now the Army's installed by the old Gasyard wall
And the damned barbed wire gets higher and higher
With their tanks and guns, oh my God what have they done
To the town I love so well

Now the music's gone, but they still carry-on
Though their spirit's been bruised, but never broken
They will not forget for their hearts are all set
On tomorrow, and peace once again
For what's done is done, and what's won is won
And what's lost is lost and gone forever
I can only pray for a bright brand new day
In the town I love so well

 more Irish Drinking Songs here

A Rover I have been and a Rover I will stay 
But to that faithful county dear, I shall return someday 
Uíbh Fhailí, how I miss you with your heather scented air 
Silently, the peaceful Brosna calls your sons from far and near 

Old Kinnitty, I long to see where the woodbine is in full Bloom 
and stroll the fields around Ferbane to hear the wild Birds in full tune 
At Clonmacnoise I see you and on to Banagher I’ll stray 
Where I’ll Drink and talk to the fishermen of the ones that got away 

Oh deader still in exile are some friends I used to know 
Still I must pass Kiloughy where great sportsmen are laid low 
At Croghan Hill I see you where in childhood I did play 
So a dew to you beloved Slieve Bloom I must be on my way 

Pile the Brown turf high upon the fire and bring the keg in from the barn 
Let the blacksmith sing his rebel song and the poacher tell his yarn 
Come close my friends and neighbours, fill your glasses to the brim 
And we’ll toast our Offaly heroes from the heather, Hill and Glen.

Oh my lovely rose of Clare, you're the sweetest girl I know, 
You're the queen of all the roses, the pretty flowers that grow, 
You are the sunshine of my life, so beautiful and fair, 
And I will always love you, my lovely rose of Clare. 

The sun it shone out like a jewel, on the lovely hills of Clare, 
When I strolled along with my sweet lass, one evening at the fair, 
Her eyes they shone like silver streams, with her long long golden hair, 
Ane I won the heart of a young sweet lass, my lovely rose of Clare. 

Oh my lovely rose of Clare, you're the sweetest girl I know, 
You're the queen of all the roses, the pretty flowers that grow, 
You are the sunshine of my life, so beautiful and fair, 
And I will always love you, my lovely rose of Clare. 

As we walked down by the river bank, watched the Shannon flowing by, 
And listened to the nightingale, singing songs for you and I, 
And now to say goodbye, farewell to all you true and fair, 
For I have stolen the heart of one, my lovely rose of Clare. 

Oh my lovely rose of Clare, you're the sweetest girl I know, 
You're the queen of all the roses, the pretty flowers that grow, 
You are the sunshine of my life, so beautiful and fair, 
And I will always love you, my lovely rose of Clare. 

How sweet is to roam by the sunny Shure stream
And hear the doves coo 'neath the morning sunbeam
Where the thrush and the robin their sweet notes entwine
On the banks of the Shure that flows down by Mooncoin.
Flow on, lovely river, flow gently along
By your waters so sweet sounds the lark's merry song
On your green banks I wander where first I did join
With you, lovely Molly, the rose of Mooncoin.

Oh Molly, dear Molly, it breaks my fond heart
To know that we two forever must part
I'll think of you Molly while sun and moon shine
On the banks of the Shure that flows down by Mooncoin.

Then here's to the Shure with its valley so fair
As oftimes we wandered in the cool morning air
Where the roses are blooming and lilies entwine
On the banks of the Shure that flows down by Mooncoin.

Flow on, lovely river, flow gently along
By your waters so sweet sounds the lark's merry song
On your green banks I wander where first I did join
With you, lovely Molly, the rose of Mooncoin.

Alone, all alone, by the wave-washed strand
All alone in a crowded hall.
The hall it is gay and the waves they are grand
But my heart is not here at all.
It flies far away, by night and by day,
To the time and the joys that are gone.
And I never can forget the sweet maiden I met,
In the valley near Slievenamon. 

It was not the grace of her queenly air
Nor her cheek of the rose's glow.
Nor her soft black eyes, not her flowing hair
Nor was it her lily-white brow.
'Twas the soul of truth and of melting ruth,
And the smile of summer's dawn
That stole my heart away, one mild summer day,
In the valley near Slievenamon. 

In the festive hall, by the star-watched shore
My restless spirit cries: my love,
Oh my love, shall I ne're see you more,
And my land will you ever uprise.
By night and by day I ever, ever pray,
While lonely my life flows on
To our flag unrolled and my true love to enfold,
In the valley near Slievenamon.

Boys of Fairhill (Cork)

The smell on Patrick's Bridge is wick-ed.
How does Fa-ther Mat-thew stick it?
Here's up them all says the boys of Fair-hill.

Come boys, spend a day with our Harrier Club so gay,
The cry of the hounds it will make your heart thrill.
And, when you hear Conan Doyle say,
The Amoured Car has won today,
Here's up 'em all say the boys of Fair Hill.

First you go to Fahy's well
for a drink of pure clean water,
The finest spot on earth sure the angels do say,
Where thousands came across the foam,
just to view the Blarney Stone,
Which can be seen from the groves of Fair Hill.

First you go to Quinlan's pub
- that is where you join our club,
Where around us in gallons the porter does flow,
First they tap a half-a-tierce
and drink a health to Dashwood's race,
That's the stuff to give 'em say the boys of Fair Hill.

Come boys and spend a day with our Hurling Club so gay
The clash of the ash it will make your heart thrill;
The Rockies thought that they were stars,
till they meet the Saint Finbarr's,
Here's up 'em all say the boys of Fair Hill.

single line verses:

Paddy Barry hooked the ball - we hooked Paddy, ball and all. 

Cathy Barry sells drisheens, pints of Murphy and pigs crubeens. 

Cathy Barry sells drisheens, fairly bursting at the seams. 

Shandon Steeple stands up straight and the River Lee flows underneath. 

The Blarney hens don't lay at all and when they lays they lays 'em small. 

The smell from the river is something wicked, how do Father Matthew stick it? 

The Blackpool girls are very small up against the sunbeam wall. 

The Montenotte girls are very rude, they go swimming in the nude. 

In Blackrock there is no law - the next Lord Mayor is Andy Gaw. 

Christy Ring he pucks the ball - we puck Christy, ball and all.

The pale moon was rising above the green mountains,
The sun was declining beneath the blue sea;
When I strayed with my love by the pure crystal fountain,
That stands in the beautiful Vale of Tralee.
She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer,
Yet 'twas not her beauty alone that won me;
Oh no, 'twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning,
that made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.

The cool shades of evening their mantle were spreading,
And Mary all smiling was listening to me;
The moon through the valley her pale rays was shedding,
When I won the heart of the Rose of Tralee.
Though lovely and fair as the Rose of the summer,
Yet 'twas not her beauty alone that won me;
Oh no, 'twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning,
that made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.

Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.

And if you come, when all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.

And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be
If you'll not fail to tell me that you love me
I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.

I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me. 

In Dublin's fair city, where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheeled her wheel-barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!
Alive, alive-O! alive, alive-O!
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!
She was a fish-monger, but sure 'twas no wonder
For so were her father and mother before
And they each wheeled their barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!
Alive, alive-O! alive, alive-O!
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!

She died of a fever, and no one could save her
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone
But her ghost wheels her barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!
Alive, alive-O! alive, alive-O!
Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive-O!

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. 

By a lonely prison wall
I heard a sweet voice calling,
"Danny, 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. 

A father and son they stood hand in hand 
As they watched Wexford play from the back of the stand 
And the words that he said, I'll hear when I'm old 
IT'S A BEAUTY TO BEHOLD WHEN YOU SEE THE PURPLE AND GOLD 

On the purple and gold is my heart and my soul 
From the men of today to the heroes of old 
Oh the purple and gold is the dream I still hold 
It's a beauty to behold when you see the purple and gold 

I can still see them now on the All-Ireland Days 
And the Rackards stood proud and by God could they play 
And the Quigleys stood tall every man brave and bold 
It was a privilege I was told to wear the purple and gold. 


On the purple and gold is my heart and my soul 
From the men of today to the heroes of old 
Oh the purple and gold is the dream I still hold 
It's a beauty to behold when you see the purple and gold 

Amhrán na bhFiann

Sinne Fianna Fáil,
Atá faoi gheall ag Éirinn,
Buíon dár slua
Thar tionn do ráinig chugainn
Faoi mhóid bheith saor,
Sean-tír ár sinsear feasta
Ní fhágfar faoin tíorán ná faoin tráill.
Anocht a théam sa bhearna baoil
Le gean ar Ghaeil chun báis nó saoil
Le gunna scréach faoi lámhach na bpiléar,
Seo libh canaig amhrán na bhFiann.

The Boys from the County Armagh

There's one fair county in Ireland,
with memories so glorious and grand,
where nature has lavished its bounty,
in the orchard of Erin's green land,
I love its cathedral and city,
once founded by Patrick so true,
and in the heart of its bosom,
are the ashes of Brian Boru.

Chorus 

It's my old Irish home,
far across the foam,
although I've often left it,
in foreign lands to roam,
no matter where I wander,
through cities near and far,
still my heart it rests in old Ireland,
in the county of Armagh.

I've travelled three parts of its county,
through Newtown, Forkhill, Crossmaglen,
around by the gap of Mountnorris,
and home by Blackwater again,
where the girls are so gay and so hearty,
none fairer in Erin go bragh,
but where are the boys that can court them,
like the boys from the county Armagh!

Chorus 

A Nation Once Again

When boyhood's fire was in my blood,
I read of ancient freemen,
for Greece and Rome who bravely stood,
three hundred men and three men,
and then I prayed I yet might see,
our fetters rent in twain,
and Ireland long a province be,
a Nation once again!

chorus 

A Nation once again,
a Nation once again,
and Ireland long a province be,
a Nation once again,

and from that time through wildest woe,
that hope has shone a far light,
nor could love's brightest summer glow,
outshine that solemn starlight,
it seemed to watch above my head,
in forum, field and fane,
it's angel voice sang round my bed,
a Nation once again!

chorus 

It whisper'd, too, that freedom's ark,
and service high and holy,
would be profaned by feelings dark,
and passions vain or lowly;
for, freedom comes from Gods right hand,
and needs a godly train,
and righteous men must make our land,
a Nation once again!

chorus 

So as I grew from boy to man,
I bent me to that bidding,
my spirit of each selfish plan,
and cruel passion ridding,
for thus I hoped, some day to aid,
oh, can such hope be in vain,
when my dear country shall be made,
a Nation once again!

chorus 

The Green Fields of France

Well, how do you do, young Willie McBride,
Do you mind if I sit here down by your graveside, 
And rest for a while 'neath the warm summer sun, 
I've been walking all day and I'm nearly done. 
I see by your gravestone you were only nineteen, 
When you joined the great fallen in nineteen-sixteen, 
I hope you died well and I hope you died clean, 
O young Willie McBride, was it slow and obscene? 

chorus 

Did they beat the drum slowly, did they play the fife lowly? 
Did they sound the Dead March as they lowered you down? 
And did the band play the Last Post and chorus? 
Did they pipes play the 'Flowers of the Forest'? 

And did you leave a wife or sweet-heart behind? 
In some faithful heart is your memory enshrined? 
Although you died back in nineteen-sixteen, 
In that faithful heart are you forever nineteen? 
Or are you a stranger without even a name? 
Enclosed and forever behind the glass frame, 
In an old photograph, torn and battered and stained, 
And faded to yellow in a brown leather frame. 

chorus 

The sun now it shines on the green fields of France, 
There's a warm summer breeze, it makes the red poppies dance, 
And look how the sun shines from under the clouds, 
There's no gas, no barbed wire, there's no guns firing now, 
But there in this graveyard it's still no-man's land, 
The countless white crosses stand mute in the sand, 
To man's blind indifference to his fellow man, 
To a whole generation that were butchered and damned. 

chorus 

Now young Willie McBride, I can't help wonder why, 
Do all those who lie here know why did they die? 
And did they believe, when they answered the cause? 
Did they really believe that this war would end wars? 
Well, the sorrows, the suffering, the glory, the pain, 
The killing and dying was all done in vain, 
For young Willie McBride, it all happened again, 
And again and again and again and again.

chorus 

Skibbereen listen 

O, Father dear, I ofttimes heard you talk of Erin's Isle,
Her valleys green, her lofty scene, her mountains rude and wild;
You said it was a pleasant place wherein a prince might dwell,
Why have you then forsaken her, the reason to me tell?

My son, I loved our native land with energy and pride
Until a blight fell on the land and sheep and cattle died,
The rents 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 on a bleak November's day,
The landlord and his agent came to drive us all away;
He set my house on fire with his demon yellow spleen
And that's another reason why I left Old Skibbereen.

Your mother, too, God rest her soul, lay on the snowy ground,
She fainted in her anguish of the desolation round.
She never rose, but went her way from life to death's long dream,
And found a quiet grave, my boy, in lovely Skibbereen.

It's well I do remember the year of forty-eight,
When we arose with Erin's boys to fight against our fate;
I was hunted through the mountains as a traitor to the Queen,
And that's another reason that I left Old Skibbereen.

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

Kevin Cashman

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