Thanks for all this, especially the observation re. variation between the words "nailed down/In dull letters under a name" and what was actually sung. I had wondered the other night whether the line in the final verse might have been "The free waves will thunder" and was cursing myself for overlooking such an obvious continuation of the idea of standing on the shore (whether waiting for Boney in '98 or at some future time, at least till 1821!), and indeed a similar idea to the "chainless wave" of Thomas Davis, so I'm doubly grateful for the reference to myth.

Thanks again,
An Buachaill Caol Dubh