The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #119645   Message #304102
Posted By: Jon Freeman
23-Sep-00 - 08:26 PM
Thread Name: Origins: For what died the sons of róisín/roisin
Subject: ADD: For What Died the Sons of Roisin (recitation)
I'm not sure whether or not to do a lyric add for what I am told is a poem so I will put it here.

FOR WHAT DIED THE SONS OF ROISIN
(Luke Kelly)

For what died the sons of Roisin?
Was it fame?
For what died the sons of Roisin?
Was it fame?
For what flowed Ireland's blood
And rivers that began when Brian chased the Dane
And did not cease nor has not ceased
With the brave sons of 16
For what died the sons of Roisin?
Was it fame?

For what died the sons of Roisin?
Was it greed?
For what died the sons of Roisin?
Was it greed?
Was it greed that drove Wolfetone
To a martyr's (pauper's) death
In a cell of cold wet stone
Will German, French or Dutch
Inscribe the Epitaph of Emmett
When we've sold enough of Ireland
To be but strangers in it
For what died the sons of Roisin?
Was it greed?

To whom do we owe our allegiance today?
To whom do we owe our allegiance today?
To those brave men who fought and died
That Roisin live again with pride
Her sons at home to work and sing
Her used youth to dance and make her valleys ring
Or her faceless men, who for Mark and Dollar
Betray her to the highest bidder
To whom do we owe our allegiance today?

For what suffer our patriots today?
For what suffer our patriots today?
They have a (the) language problem
So they say
How to write "No Trespass"
Must grieve their hearts full sore
We got rid of one strange language
Now we're faced with many, many more
For what suffer our patriots today?