Christy Moore - The Hackler from Grouse Hall lyrics

I am a roving hackler lad
That loves the shamrock shore
My name is Pat McDonnell and
My age is eighty-four
Belov'd and well-respected by my
Neighbours one and all
On St patrick's day I loved to
Stray round Lavey and Grouse Hall

When I was young I danced and
Sung and drank good whiskey, too
Each síbín shop that sold a drop
Of the real old mountain dew
With the poitín still on every hill
The peelers had no call
Round sweet Stradone I am well known
Round Lavey and Grouse Hall

I rambled round from town to town
For hackling was my trade
None can deny I think that
I an honest living made
Where e'er I'd stay by night or
Day the youth wud always call
To have some crack with Paddy Jack
The hackler from Grouse Hall
I think it strange how times have
Changed so very much of late
Coercion now is all the row
And Peelers on their bate
To take a glass is now, alas
The greatest crime of all
Since Balfour placed that hungry beast
The Sergeant of Grouse Hall

The busy tool of Castle rule
He travels night and day
He'll seize a goat just by the
Throat for want of better prey
The nasty skunk
He'll swear you're drunk tho' you
Took none at all
There is no peace about the place
Since he came to Grouse Hall

'Twas on pretence of this offence he
Dragged me off to jail
Alone to dwell in a cold cell
My fate for to bewail
My hoary head on a plank bed
Such wrongs for vengeance call
He'll rue the day he dragged away
The hackler from Grouse Hall

He haunts the League just like a plague
And shame for to relate
The priest can't be on Sunday
Free the Mass to celebrate
It's there he'll kneel encased in
Steel prepared on duty's call
For to assail and drag to jail
Our clergy from Grouse Hall

Down into hell he'd run pell-mell
To hunt for poitín there
And won't be loath to swear an
Oath 'twas found in Killinkere
He'll search your bed from foot
To head, sheets, blankets, tick and all
Your wife, undressed
Must leave the nest for Jemmy of Grouse Hall

He fixed a plan for one poor
Man who had a handsome wife
To take away without delay
Her liberty and life
He'd swear quite plain that he's insane
And got no sense at all
As he has done of late with
One convenient to Grouse Hall

Thank God the day's not far away
When Home Rule will be seen
And brave Parnell at home will dwell
And shine in College Green
Our policemen will all be then
Our nation's choice and all
Old Balfour's pack will get the sack
And banished from Grouse Hall

Let old and young clear out their
Lungs and sing this little song
Come join with me and let him
See you all resent the wrong
And while I live I'll always give
A prayer for his downfall
And when I die I don't deny
I'll haunt him from Grouse hall