The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #24198   Message #274430
Posted By: Mrrzy
09-Aug-00 - 03:04 PM
Thread Name: The Confederate Sub 'Hunley', any info?
Subject: RE: The Confederate Sub 'Hunley', any info?
Sorry, GREAT Fenian Ram. Not in the Trad. Here's what I remember of it; all proper nouns are wild guesses, and some of the lines might not be in their proper verses... but here goes:

The Great Fenian Ram (Wolfe Tones)

In the town of Liscannor, in the County of Clare
Where many brave Irishman's plans were laid bare
You saw the wild seals as you stood on the beach
And you wondered and gazed at the ocean beneath
Your life of religion was never to be
You soon found your way to the land of the free
In the state of New Jersey perfected your plan
And your work was unveiled as the Great Fenian Ram
Chorus: Some men for adventure have planned for the stars
And others have hoped to see Venus or Mars
But you worked and you labored to build your wild dream
Oh, that you'd be the man with the first submarine!

Neath the waves of the ocean your craft was at home
And the Fenians had plans for the boat for to roam
For to take on the ships of the British Navy
And all would be done now from under the sea
The English, so tested, complained to Old Sam
Bout a mischievous boat called the Great Fenian Ram
"Oh, he's just an inventor, we've nothing more to hide!"
And John Bull was so angry when the Yankees replied
Chorus
(... - missing some ...)
In the Passyunk River your friends were amazed
As the ship moved so silent neath the rivers and waves
An attack on the Emperor was prevented by spies
And the cause was all crushed mid dissention and lies
But Uncle Sam's navy was so proud of your boat
That the Holland's the name of the first sub afloat!
Chorus
And here as I stand beside New York bay
I can see all the ways you're remembered today
For your name it is written on tunnels and on ships
On the streets of New York and in New Jersey slips
Be proud, sons of Erin, an Irishman he
John Holland, the first for to voyage neath the sea
Let the Statue of Liberty a beacon shine free
For John Holland, the first for to voyage neath the sea!
Chorus, repeat chorus...

Anybody know for whom the Holland Tunnel was named? Where's Dave, The Ancient Mariner? Is anything in this song actually true? Apparently he wasn't the FIRST, not if the Civil War had one, right?