PADDY'S LAMENTATION
Well it's by the hush, me boys, and sure that's to hold your noise
And listen to poor Paddy's sad narration
I was by hunger pressed, and in poverty distressed
So I took a thought I'd leave the Irish nation
Here's you boys, now take my advice
To America I'll have ye's not be going
There is nothing here but war, where the murderin' cannons roar
And I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin
Well I sold me ass and cow, my little pigs and sow
My little plot of land I soon did part with
And me sweetheart Bid McGee, I'm afraid I'll never see
For I left her there that morning broken-hearted
Here's you boys [etc.]
Well meself and a hundred more, to America sailed o'er
Our fortunes to be made [sic] we were thinkin'
When we got to Yankee land, they shoved a gun into our hands
Saying "Paddy, you must go and fight for Lincoln"
Here's you boys [etc.]
General Meagher to us he said, if you get shot or lose your head
Every murdered soul of youse will get a pension
Well meself I lost me leg, they gave me a wooden peg,
And by God this is the truth to you I mention
Here's you boys [etc.]
Well I think meself in luck, if I get fed on Indian buck
And old Ireland is the country I delight in
With the devil, I do say, it's curse Americay
For I think I've had enough of your hard fightin'
Here's you boys [etc.]
Note: in verse 4 (the one starting "Sergeant Roche ...") I think the name
of the Sergeant should be something other than Roche, but I can't
remember what it is. Also I've heard two versions of the third line
of that verse:
Well meself I lost me leg, they gave me a wooden peg
and
Well meself I lost me leg, but there's many more are dead
Mary Black uses the first version, I think.
Sla/n go fo/illeach,
Seamus Mac Conaonaigh
smaccona@ccvax.ucd.ie