Skibbereen

Oh, father dear, I ofttimes hear you speak of Erin's Isle
Her lofty scenes, her fields of green, her mountains rude and wild
You say it is a pleasant place wherein a prince might dwell
Why have you then aboned her, the reason to me tell

My son, I loved our native land with energy and pride
Until a blight fell on the land and sheep and cattle died
The rents and taxes were to pay, I could not them redeem
And that's the cruel reason why I left old Skibbereen

It's well I do remember that bleak November's day
The landlord and the balab came to drive us all away
They set our house on fire with his evil British spleen
And that's another reason why I left old Skibbereen

Your mother, too, God rest her soul, lay on the snowy ground
She fainted in her anguish of the desolation round
She never rose, but went her way from life to immortal dreams
And that's another reason why I left old Skibbereen

It's well I do remember the year of forty-eight
When we arose with Erin's boys to fight against our fate
I was hunted through the mountains as a traitor to the Queen
And that's another reason that I left old Skibbereen

Oh, father dear, the day will come when vengeance loud will call
And we'll arise with Erin's boys and rally one and all
I'll be tbe man to lead the van, beneath our flag of green
And loud and high we'll raise the cry "Revenge for Skibbereen"

Performed by The Dubliners.