A lovely song indeed. I had the privilege of hearing it sung live by Gabriel McArtle at the Singing Workshop at Willie Clancy Festival, Ireland, 1984. The workshop was a lovely affair. There was an hour's lecture each day and then traditional singers who were attending the festival were brought in to sing for us. Transcribed from the cassette tape I made at the time, Gabriel McArtle sings: Sweet Kingwilliamstown [Singing Workshop at Willie Clancy Festival, Ireland, 1984] Gabriel McArtle My bonny barque floats light and free Across the surging foam It takes me far from Innisfail To seek a foreign home A lonely exile driven 'neath Misfortune's cruel frown Far from my home and friends so dear In sweet Kingwilliamstown Whilst here alone on deck I stand And watch the surging foam Kind thoughts arise all in my heart Of friends I'll ne'er see more Of happy hours and childhood days How fast the tears roll down To thinking of my own dear home In sweet Kingwilliamstown Shall I no more gaze on that shore Or view those mountains high Or stroll along Blackwater Side Where I roamed as a boy Or view the sun o'er Knockacummer Fall o'er the heather brown (light up the heather brown) Before she flings her farewell beams On sweet Kingwilliamstown I know not but I fondly hope Where'er my footsteps fall Will always linger in my heart Sweet thoughts of friends at home So fare thee well, Sweet Desmond Town As the night comes softly down Oh, God be with you, Ireland And sweet Kingwilliamstown
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