The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #63678   Message #1045039
Posted By: allie kiwi
30-Oct-03 - 11:27 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Farewell to Derry (F. Brolly)
Subject: Lyr Add: FAREWELL TO DERRY (F. Brolly)
Ok, here are the oficial lyrics I received C/- the Limavady Borough Council. (I had to reinstall MS word in order to open the attachment. COMPUTERS!)

Farewell to Derry
By F. Brolly

Poor wandering man since time began
Has yearned for native soil;
So sorely grieves the man who leaves
His homeland by the Foyle,
To preach the Word, face battle's danger,
Praise the Lord and serve the stranger;
Day by day they sail away
And bid farewell to Derry.

Great Colmcille, remembered still,
The noblest of his clan,
In the dawning day of Christian sway
Self-exiled from this land;
Though kind the Scot and high his calling
He ne'er forgot till life's shades' falling
Boyhood's scene, oak groves to green,
And said farewell to Derry.

In later days when battle's blaze
Engulfed lands, large and small,
Our reckless men left Foyle's sweet glen
To answer bugle's call;
Left babes and wives for war's furore
And gave their lives for others' glory;
Wanting jobs, they took their 'bobs'
And bade farewell to Derry

And still they leave, once more to grieve,
For Foyle and friends and home;
Nor gold, nor fame 'eer break the claim
Of the place from which them roam:
The Waterside, the flowing river,
The 'Bog' and Creggan haunt forever
Wandering ones, those love-torn sons,
Who bid farewell to Derry.