In the city of Chicago As the evening shadows fall There are people dreaming Of the hills of Donegal Verse 1: Eighteen forty seven was the year it all began Deadly pains of hunger Drove a million from the land They journeyed not for glory Their motive wasn't greed A voyage of survival Across the stormy sea Chorus: Verse 2: Some of them knew fortune Some of them knew fame More of them knew hardship Died upon the plain They spread throughout the nation They rode the railroad cars Brought their songs and music To ease their lonely hearts

Spancilhill Last night as I lay dreaming, of the pleasant days gone by, My mind being bent on rambling and to Erin's Isle I did fly. I stepped on board a vision and sailed out with a will, 'Till I gladly came to anchor at the Cross of Spancilhill. Enchanted by the novelty, delighted with the scenes, Where in my early childhood, I often times have been. I thought I heard a murmur, I think I hear it still, 'Tis that little stream of water at the Cross of Spancilhill. And to amuse my fancy, I lay upon the ground, Where all my school companions, in crowds assembled 'round. Some have grown to manhood, while more their graves did fill, Oh I thought we were all young again, at the Cross of Spancilhill. It being on a Sabbath morning, I thought I heard a bell, O'er hills and vallies sounded, in notes that seemed to tell, That Father Dan was coming, his duty to fulfill, At the parish church of Clooney, just one mile from Spancilhill. And when our duty did commence, we all knelt down in prayer, In hopes for to be ready, to climb the Golden Stair. And when back home returning, we danced with right good will, To Martin Moilens music, at the Cross of Spancilhill. It being on the twenty third of June, the day before the fair, Sure Erin's sons and daughters, they all assembled there. The young, the old, the stout and the bold, they came to sport and kill, What a curious combination, at the Fair of Spancilhill. I went into my old home, as every stone can tell, The old boreen was just the same, and the apple tree over the well, I miss my sister Ellen, my brothers Pat and Bill, Sure I only met my strange faces at my home in Spancilhill. I called to see my neighbors, to hear what they might say, The old were getting feeble, and the young ones turning grey. I met with tailor Quigley, he's as brave as ever still, Sure he always made my breeches when I lived in Spancilhill. I paid a flying visit, to my first and only love, She's as pure as any lilly, and as gentle as a dove. She threw her arms around me, saying Mike I love you still, She is Mack the Rangers daughter, the Pride of Spancilhill. I thought I stooped to kiss her, as I did in days of yore, Says she Mike you're only joking, as you often were before, The cock crew on the roost again, he crew both loud and shrill, And I awoke in California, far far from Spancilhill. But when my vision faded, the tears came in my eyes, In hope to see that dear old spot, some day before I die. May the Joyous King of Angels, His Choicest Blessings spill, On that Glorious spot of Nature, the Cross of Spancilhill.

T'was on a dreary New Years Eve As the shades of night came down A lorry load of volunteers approached the border town There were men from Dublin and from Cork, Fermanagh and Tyrone And the leader was a Limerick man - Sean South from Garryowen As they moved along the street up to the barracks door They scorned the danger they might face Their fate that lay instore They were fighting for old Ireland to claim their very own And the foremost of that gallant band Was South from Garryowen But the seargent spied their daring plan He spied them trough the door The Sten guns and the rifles a hail of death did pour And when that awful night had passed Two men lay cold a stone There was one from near the border and one from Garryowen No more wil he hear the seagull's cry Over the murmurring Shannon tide For he fell beneath a Northern sky brave Hanlon by his side They have gone to join that gallant band Of Plunkett, Pearse and Tone A martyr for old Ireland Sean South from Garryowen

Well, in a neat little town they call Belfast, apprentice to trade I was bound Many an hours sweet happiness, have I spent in that neat little town A sad misfortune came over me, which caused me to stray from the land Far away from my friends and relations, betrayed by the black velvet band Her eyes they shone like diamonds I thought her the queen of the land And her hair it hung over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band I took a stroll down Broadway, meaning not long for to stay When who should I meet but this pretty fair maid comes a tripping along the highway She was both fair and handsome, her neck it was just like a swans And her hair it hung over her shoulder, tied up with a black velvet band Her eyes they shone like diamonds I thought her the queen of the land And her hair it hung over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band I took a stroll with this pretty fair maid, and a gentleman passing us by Well I knew she meant the doing of him, by the look in her roguish black eye A goldwatch she took from his pocket and placed it right in to my hand And the very first thing that I said was bad luck to the black velvet band Her eyes they shone like diamonds I thought her the queen of the land And her hair it hung over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band Before the judge and the jury, next morning I had to appear The judge he says to me: "Young man, your case it is proven clear We'll give you seven years penal servitude, to be spent faraway from the land Far away from your friends and companions, betrayed by the black velvet band" Her eyes they shone like diamonds I thought her the queen of the land And her hair it hung over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band So come all you jolly young fellows a warning take by me When you are out on the town me lads, beware of them pretty colleens For they feed you with strong drink, "Oh yeah", 'til you are unable to stand And the very next thing that you'll know is you've landed in Van Diemens Land Her eyes they shone like diamonds I thought her the queen of the land And her hair it hung over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band

I've been a wild rover for many a year And I spent all my money on whiskey and beer, And now I'm returning with gold in great store And I never will play the wild rover no more. chorus: And it's no, nay, never, No nay never no more, Will I play the wild rover No never no more. I went to an ale-house I used to frequent And I told the landlady my money was spent. I asked her for credit, she answered me "nay Such a custom as yours I could have any day." chorus I took from my pocket ten sovereigns bright And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight. She said "I have whiskey and wines of the best And the words that I spoke sure were only in jest." chorus I'll go home to my parents, confess what I've done And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son. And if they caress (forgive) me as ofttimes before Sure I never will play the wild rover no more. chorus