The Dubliners - Skibbereen lyrics

Oh father dear
I oft-times hear you speak of Erin's isle
Her lofty hills, her valleys green
Her mountains rude and wild
They say she is a lovely land
Wherein a saint might dwell
So why did you abandon her
The reason to me tell

Oh son
I loved my native land with energy and pride
Till a blight came o'er the praties my sheep
My cattle died
My rent and taxes went unpaid
I could not them redeem
And that's the cruel reason why
I left old Skibbereen

Oh well do I remember that bleak December day
The landlord and the sheriff came
To take us all away they set my roof on fire
With their cursed English spleen
I heaved a sigh and bade
Goodbye to dear old Skibbereen

Your mother too, God rest her soul
Fell on the stony ground
She fainted in her anguish
Seeing desolation 'round
She never rose but passed away
From life to immortal dream
She found a quiet grave, me boy
In dear old Skibbereen

And you were only two years old
And feeble was your frame
I could not leave you with my friends
For you bore your father's name
I wrapped you in my cóta mór
In the dead of night unseen
I heaved a sigh and bade
Goodbye to dear old Skibbereen

Oh father dear
The day will come when in answer to the call
All Irish men of freedom stern
Will rally one and all
I'll be the man to lead the
Band beneath the flag of green
And loud and clear we'll raise the cheer
Revenge for Skibbereen!