My transcription from The Internet Archive. I have boldfaced the words that are different from Frank Maher's version above. Note that one of Frank's verses is omitted here.


THE HILLS OF DONEGAL
As recorded by the McNulty Family, Decca (American) 12071B, 10-Nov-1936.

Oh, Donegal, the pride of all, my heart still turns to thee,
My cottage home, where oft I roamed, when I was young and free.
The houses grand in foreign lands cannot compare at all
With my cottage bright on a winter's night by the hills of Donegal.

Right well I mind, in the harvest time, that doleful dreary day,
When I was leaving* Donegal, and wandered far away.
In Creeslough town, my friends stood round, I bid farewell to all,
Then on the ban I waved my hand to the hills of Donegal.

Oh, gra mo chree! I long to see my native hills again!
On a foreign shore, my heart is sore, with an exile's longing pain.
Could I but see the mountains free, 'twould compensate for all,
And I'd live as my forefathers lived,** in the hills of Donegal.


[* "As I was leaving Donegal" breaks the pattern of internal rhyme that is evident throughout the song; therefore I prefer Frank Maher's version: "When leaving all in Donegal...".]

[** "live as my forefathers lived" is also a bit awkward; the live/lived rhyme falls on the wrong syllable.]