The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #79420   Message #3222236
Posted By: Jim Dixon
12-Sep-11 - 08:14 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Erin Go Bragh
Subject: Lyr Add: THE HARP (Trotter)
From The Harp of Caledonia, Volume 2 By John Struthers (Glasgow: Archibald Fullarton & Co., 1821), page 234:

THE HARP.
Mr. Trotter.

Once the harp thro' the vallies of Erin resounded,
Erin mavourneen, Erin go Bragh;
The shamrock and laurel luxuriantly crown'd it,
Erin mavourneen, Erin go Bragh;
Sweet was its tone when pensively mourning;
As bold and as warm when with gratitude burning,
It thrill'd for the heroes from battle returning,
Erin mavourneen, Erin go Bragh;

But the dark and the dampness of night slowly creeping,
Erin mavourneen, Erin go Bragh;
O'erwhelm'd its lov'd strains, as Erin sat weeping,
Erin mavourneen, Erin go Bragh;
Long was that night, the harp, no more sounded,
By silence and gathering horrors surrounded,
Lay prostrate, nor told how deeply 'twas wounded,
Erin mavourneen, Erin go Bragh;

Dark was that cloud the harp's ruin concealing,
Erin mavourneen, Erin go Bragh;
Strong was that spell its soft music congealing,
Erin mavourneen, Erin go Bragh;
Till a ray sent from heaven which cheer'd and delighted,
Purely and bright the fallen relic re-lighted,
And burst the cold bonds, of the harp long benighted,
Erin mavourneen, Erin go Bragh.