This is from an old thread. I believe John probably has a good bit of history for this one. He does a real nice job singing this. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req Wild Geese
From: John Nolan
Date: 03-May-98 - 08:45 PM

After Aughrim's great disaster,
When the foe in sooth was master,
Twas you who first rushed in and swam the Shannon's fearful flood,
And through Slieveloom's dark passes,
You wove your gallowglasses,
Although the hungry Saxon wolves were howling for our blood.
And as you crossed Tip'rary,
You rised the Clan O'Leary,
And drove a crack before them as their horsemen onward came,
With our swords and spears we gored them,
As through flood and light we bored them,
Ah, but Sean o Duibhir an Ghleanna, we were worsted in the game.

Long, long we kept the hillside,
Our couch hard by the rill-side,
The sturdy knotted oaken bough our curtain overhead,
The summer's blaze we laughed at,
The winter snows we scoffed at,
And trusted in our long steel swords to win us daily bread.
'Til the Dutchman's troops came round us,
With fire and sword they bound us,
They fired the woods and mountains 'til the very clouds were flame,
Yet our sharped swords cut through them
In their very hearts we them hewed them,
Ah, but Sean O Duibhir an Ghleanna, we were worsted in the game.

Here's a health to your and my king,
The monarch of our liking,
And to Sarsfield underneath whose flag, we'll cast once more a chance,
For the morning dawn will wing us
Across the sea and bring us,
To take our stand and wield a brand among the sons of France,
And though we part in sorrow,
Still Sean O Duibhir an Ghleanna,
Our prayer is God save Ireland and pour blessings on her name,
May her sons be true and needed,
May they never feel as we did,
Ah, Sean o Duibhir an Ghleanna, we were worsted in the game.

Written by Patrick Augustine Canon Sheehan (d. 1913) and as sung by Kevin Mitchell. (Caution: the odd word may be wrong.)