The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #35557   Message #488145
Posted By: Malcolm Douglas
20-Jun-01 - 03:23 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Seeking Irish Lyrics II
Subject: Lyr Add: FAREWELL, MY OWN DEAR NATIVE LAND
I had to go to the dentist, so I looked in at the city library on the way back and borrowed Farewell, My Own Dear Native Land (Topic TSCD 654).  Here's the text as sung by Margaret Barry at Bill Leader's mother's house in Camden Town, mid-1968 :

FAREWELL, MY OWN DEAR NATIVE LAND

Farewell, my own dear native land, for here I cannot stay,
For I do intend to cross the sea bound for America.
To leave the land that gave me birth it grieves my heart full sore,
So fare thee well, old Ireland around the shamrock shore.

The ship she lies at anchor lee now ready for the sea.
May heaven send a vessel safe with sweet and pleasant gale,
And when I'm on the ocean wide you'll all be in my mind,
So fare thee well, old Ireland and all I left behind.

Farewell, my boys, her spars are spread; the wind is blowing fair.
Full steam to Castle Gardens! In a few days we'll be there.
It's hard to part with all I'd love that's in my heart, you know,
To leave that dear old Ireland around the shamrock shore.

The tears flow freely from my eyes, my heart suppressed with woe
To think I'd leave my native land, I am compelled to go.
To see my old aged mother and it fills her heart with woe
To leave that dear old Ireland around the shamrock shore.