Mighty stuff lads. It's great to know more about Meagher and his men.
I just love Mudcat and it's people.
Here is a very slightly different version of the same song which I got from the singing of Frank Harte. Full lyrics and a great rendition of the song are on his CD "Daybreak and a Candle-End"

Frank explains on the sleeve notes, "The title of the song is a corruption of an Irish phrase Bí i do thost or be quietwhich in fact is translated in the first line of the song......Well, it's by the hush, me boys and that's to make no noise".

By The Hush Me Boys

Chorus
Here's you boys, now take my advice
To America I'd have you not be comin'
For There's nothin' here but war
Where the murderin' cannons roar
And I wish I was at home in dear old Erin.

Well, it's by the hush, me boys
And that's to make no noise
And listen to poor Paddy's sad narration.
For I was by hunger pressed
And in poverty distressed
So I took a thought I'd leave the Irish nation.

chorus

Well, I sold me horse and plough
My little pig and sow
My father's farm of land and then I parted
And me sweetheart Biddy McGee
I'm afraid I'll ne'er more see
For I left her there in Ireland broken hearted.

chorus

Then, myself and a hundred more,
To America sailed o'er
Our fortunes to be madking we were thinkin'
When we landed in Yankee land
They stuck a gun into our hand
Sayin', "Paddy, you must go and fight for Lincoln."

chorus

General Meagher to us he said
If you get shot or lose your head
Every mother's son of yous will get a pension.
In the war I lost me leg
All I have now is a wooden peg
By my soul it is the truth to you I'll mention.

Now I'd think myself in luck
To be fed on Indian buck,
In old Ireland, the country I delight in.
And the Devil I do say,
God's curse on Americay,
For I'm sure I've had enough of your hard fightin'.

chorus

Thanks again for your wonderful thread contributions.

Frank McGrath
Nenagh Singers Circle