Ten years ago, on a cold dark night Someone was killed 'neath the town hall light Just a few at the scene and they all did agree That the man who ran looked a lot like me
Well the judge said, "Son, what's your alibi? If you were somewhere else, then you won't have to die" But I spoke not a word, though it meant my life For I'd been in the arms of my best friend's wife
She walks these hills in a long black veil She visits my grave when the night winds wail Nobody knows, Lord, nobody sees Nobody knows but me
Well, the scaffold is high and eternity near She stands in the crowd and sheds not a tear But sometimes at night when the cold winds moans In a long black veil, she cries all over my bones
She walks these hills in a long black veil She visits my grave when the night winds wail Nobody knows, Lord, nobody sees Nobody knows but me
I was down the glen one Easter morn To a city fair rode I. There armed lines of marching men In squadrons passed me by. No pipe did hum, no battle drum did sound its loud tattoo. But the Angelus Bells o'er the Liffey swells rang out in the foggy dew. Right proudly high in Dublin town Hung they out a flag of war. 'Twas better to die 'neath that Irish sky than at Sulva or Sud el Bar. And from the plains of Royal Meath strong men came hurrying through While Brittania's huns with their long range guns sailed in through the foggy dew. Their bravest fell and the requiem bell rang mournfully and clear For those who died that Eastertide in the springing of the year. While the world did gaze with deep amaze at those fearless men but few. Who bore the fight that freedom's light Might shine through the foggy dew. And 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 n'more. But to and fro in my dreams I go And I kneel and pray for you. For slavery fled the glorious dead when you fell in the foggy dew.
Here we are we've come to call with pipes and flutes and fiddles and all In case of death we've even brought a keener So, if you're glum and feeling down just feel like us And act the clown and soon there'll be a change in your demeanor (Lilting) I put me money on a horse today for with the race he'd run away Or so a friend that's in the know he told me Twenty lengths ahead at most, he proudly cantered pass the post But, woe was me, he lost the bloomin' jockey! (Lilting, followed by verse-long fiddle and whistle break) Now of all the places I have seen from China to the Caribbean Are all across the goat compared to Ireland From Bally Castle to Tralie the Corup to the Liffy There's no where else on earth but like this island (Lilting, followed by short piano break) In Hollywood I long to be, no, not the place across the sea But in County Wickloe Ireland's lovely garden Where no pretenders will you find but decent people warm and kind And flocks of friendly sheep into the bargain (Lilting, followed by short fiddle and whistle break) For your ills don't take a pill but take it down the road, the hills And listen to the larks lovely warbling In the evening in the company with music in the key of E You'll be dancing Kerry sets until the morning (Lilting) Dancing Kerry sets until the morning
When first I came to Ireland Some pleasure for to find It's there I spied a damsel fair Most pleasing to my mind Her rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes Like arrows pierced my breast They call her lovely Molly O The Lily of the West
One day as I was walking Down by a shady grove I espied a Lord of high degree Conversing with my love She sang a song delightful While I was sore oppressed Saying "I bid adieu to Molly O The Lily of the West..."
I stepped up with my rapier And my dagger in my hand And dragged him from my false love And boldly bid him stand But being mad with desperation I swore I'd pierce his breast I was then deceived by Molly O The Lily of the West I then did stand my trial And boldly I did plead
A flaw was in my indictment found And that soon had me freed That beauty bright I did adore The judge did her address "Now go, you faithless Molly O The Lily of the West."
Now that I've gained my liberty A-roving I will go I'll ramble through old Ireland And travel Scotland o'er Tho' she thought to swear my life away She still disturbs my rest I still must style her Molly O The Lily of the West
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain I wish I were a maid again But a maid again I can never be Until apples grow on an ivy tree For love it is pleasin' and love is teasin' And love is a treasure when first it's new But as love grows older, then love grows colder And it fades away like the morning dew There is a little house into town And there my love, he sits him down He takes a strange girl on his knee And he tells her things that he wants to be For love and water make younger older And love and whiskey make her old and grey And what cannot be cured, love, must be endured, love And now I am bound for America La la la la la la... La la la la la la... As life grows older sure love grows older And it fades away like the morning dew
My own love said to me "My mother won't mind And my daughters won't slight you for your lack of kind" He went away from me and this he did say: "It will not be long, Love, till our wedding day"
He went away from me and he moved through the fair And slowly I watched him move here and move there He went his way homeward with one star awake As this swan in the evening moves over the lake
I dreamed last night that my own love came in He came in so sweetly his feet made no din He came close beside me and this he did say: "It will not be long Love till our wedding day"
It will not be long love, long love, long love, love
In the merry month of May from me home I started Left the girls of Tuam sad and broken hearted Saluted father dear, then kissed me darlin' mother Then drank a pint of beer me tears and grief to smother Off to reap the corn, leave where I was born, I cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghost and goblin A brand new pair of brogues, rattlin o'er the bogs And frightenin' all the dogs on the rock road to Dublin.
One, two, three, four, five Hunt the hare and turn her Down the rocky road, another way to Dublin Whack fol-laddie-roll!
In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity To be so soon deprived a view of that fine city When I took a stroll all among the quality My bundle it was stole from that neat locality Something crossed me mind, when I looked behind No bundle could I find upon me stick a-wobblin' Enquirin' for the rogue, they said me Connacht brogue Wasn't much in vogue on the rock road to Dublin.
One, two, three, four, five Hunt the hare and turn her Down the rocky road, another way to Dublin Whack fol-laddie-roll!
The boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed, Called meself a fool, I could no longer stand it, Me blood began to boil, for all I was a losin', Poor old Erin's Isle they began abusin' "Hurrah, me Soul!" says I, shillelagh I let fly Some Galway boys came by and saw I was a hobblin' With a loud "Hurray" they joined in the affray And quickly cleared the way for the rocky road to Dublin!
One, two, three, four, five Hunt the hare and turn her Down the rocky road, another way to Dublin Whack fol-laddie-roll!