The origins of the song are in the original a Jacobite version in which The Young Pretender is called "Shéarlais Oig, Mhic Rí Shéamais" (Young Charles, King James's son") as stated in the first line of the song, is the one who was welcomed home to claim his birthright in 1745.
The lyrics of the newer version were written by Pádraig Pearse, one of the leaders of the Irish Rebellion of 1916, as an invitation to all Irishmen away from Ireland to return home and join the fight for independence.
The tune is in P. W. Joyce as "Oro,'Se do Bheatha a Bhaile": "Oro, Welcome Home!" A Hauling-Home Song, with following explanation:
"The 'Hauling Home' was bringing home the bride to her husband's house after marriage. It was usually a month or so after the wedding, and was celebrated as an occasion next only in importance to the wedding itself. The bridegroom brought back home his bride at the head of a triumphal procession- all on cars or on horseback. I well remember one where the bride rode on a pillion behind her husband. As they entered the house the bridegroom is supposed to speak or sing:
- Oro, sé do bheatha a bhaile,
Is fearr liom tu ná céad bo bainne:
Oro, sé do bheatha a bhaile,
Thá tu maith le rátha.
Oro, welcome home,
I would rather have you than a hundred milch cows:
Oro, Welcome home,
'tis you are happy with prosperity.
Pearse's Versionwith a fair translation is as follows:

ORO, SE DO BHEATHA ABHAILE
(OH WELCOME HOME)



SE DO BHEATHA, A BHEAN BA LEANMHAR
B'E AR GCREACH TU BHEITH I NGEIBHINN
DO DHUICHE BHREA I SEILBH MEIRLEACH
'S TU DIOLTA LEIS NA GHALLAIBH

WELCOME LADY OF GREAT SORROW
WE SHARE THE GRIEF OF YOUR INTERNMENT
YOUR FAIR LAND IN THE HANDS OF BRIGANDS
AND YOU IN BONDAGE TO STRANGERS


ORO, SE DO BHEATHA ABHAILE
ORO, SE DO BHEATHA ABHAILE
ORO, SE DO BHEATHA ABHAILE
ANOIS AR THEACHT AN TSAMHRAIDH

OH WELCOME HOME
OH WELCOME HOME
OH WELCOME HOME
NOW THE SUMMER IS COMING


TA GRANNIE MHOAL AG TEACHT THAR SAILE
OGLAIGH ARMTHA LEI MAR GHARDA
GAEIL IAD FEIN IS NI GAILL NA SPAINNIGH
IS CUIRFIDH RUAIG AR GHALLAIBH

GRANNIE MHOAL (GRACE O'MALLEY) IS CROSSING THE OCEAN
WITH ARMED WARRIORS AS HER GUARD
GAELS ARE THEY NOT FRENCH NOR SPAINNARDS
THEY WILL OVERWHELM TO THE FOREIGNERS

ORO.........


A BHUI LE RI NA BHFEART GO BHFEICEAM
MUNA MBEAM BEO INA DHIAIDH ACH SEACHTAIN
GRANNIE MHOAL AGUS MILE GAISCIOCH
AG FOGAIRT FAIN AR GHALLAIBH

THANK HEAVEN'S KING THAT WE SHALL SEE
EVEN THOUGH WE DIE SOON AFTER (THE NEXT WEEK)
GRANNIE MHOAL AND A THOUSAND WARRIORS
HERALD THE STRANGER'S RETREAT


ORO.........