I've had the original Grehan Sisters LP "On the Galtymore Mountains" (Transatlantic TRA160) (autographed by all three) since the 60's. Victoria is the first track, and like many others, it is often very difficult to decipher what they are singing. There are minor differences from Jim's posting, perhaps the biggest being "they're coming down for you, Victoria" in the chorus and verses 1 & 3. The Grehans credit the composer as Brian Na Barbar, rather than O'Higgins. Are they one and the same?

The sleeve-notes give some background (but have been proved to be inaccurate for at least one other track):

The decapitation of King Billy's statue in College Green, Dublin, the blowing up of the Equestrian Statue of King George II in St. Stephen's Green and the removal by violent action of the Lion and Unicorn emblem near Dublin Castle on the morning of Poppy Day 1937, set loyal people saying that means should be taken to protect the ugly and aggressive looking image of the Queen Victoria that stands on Leinster Lawn.

VICTORIA
(Brian Na Barbar)

The lion and the unicorn were fighting for the crown,
When up spoke Irish Cheddar¹ and they both came tumbling down
The second George departed too, from Stephen's Green in town,
But they're coming down for you, Victoria!

CHORUS:
Victoria, they're coming for you soon,
Victoria, it may be when the moon
Is shining on December frosts or on the flowers of June
But they're coming down for you, Victoria!

A gas main² burst in Belfast on the eve of Poppy Day,
And loyal doors, and windows too, blew rapidly away.
Came the dawn in Dublin, and the naughty so they say³
Sent a message from the Castle to Victoria.

Georgie lost the seat he had⁴; king Billy lost his head;
The lion lost his balance and⁵ the unicorn he fled,
And sure as you're a humpy stumpy bumpy lump of lead
They'll be coming down for you, Victoria.

Nelson's weather eye, they say, was looking out for squalls;
They're nervous in the Phoenix Park and round old Dublin's walls
But whosoever keeps his place and whosoever falls,
They've a double date with you, Victoria !!!

1. It certainly sounds like 'Irish Cheddar', but what does that mean?
2. I had always heard 'A gatling burst'. On re-listening it does sound more like 'gas main', but it's impossible to be sure.
3. Who or what are 'the naughty so they say'?
4. I had always heard 'lost his seating'. Could be either
5. Sounds more like 'from' to me

WassaiL! V