This is the George Spicer text:

Far, far away, on the banks of the Nile
Thousands of miles from his own green isle
A brave Irish soldier, a gallant dragoon,
Read his mother’s letter by the light of the moon
He stole from his camp, this message to read
The words that were in it made his stout heart bleed
For while Pat was fighting with the rest of his band
His mother was evicted by the laws of the land

Chorus: And the tears rolled down his sunburnt cheeks
Dropped upon/on the letter in his hand
“Is it true, too true?
There’s more trouble in our native land?”

It told how a widow who couldn’t pay her way
Was turned in the street on a cold winter’s day
It told how another, a true friend in need
Offered her a shelter she surely did need
“I know I’m doing wrong” this poor old creature said
“By finding you a shelter in this poor old humble shed
It’s against the laws of Ireland, such laws as those I spurn
My home shall be your home ‘til your son shall return”

Chorus