"Skibbereen" lyrics

Oh father dear, and I often hear you speak of Erin's isle
Her lofty scenes, her valleys green, her mountains rude and wild
They say it is a lovely land wherein a prince might dwell
Then why did you abandon it? The reasons to me tell

My son, I loved my native land with energy and pride
Till a blight came o'er all my crops, and my sheep and cattle died
The rents and taxes were to pay, and I could not them redeem
And that's the cruel reason I left old Skibbereen

This well I do remember the bleak November day
When the bailiff and the landlord came to drive us all away
They set their roof on fire with their cursed English spleen
And that's another reason I left old Skibbereen

Your mother too, God rest her soul, fell on the snowy ground
She fainted in her anguishing seeing the desolation 'round
She never rose but passed away from life to immortal dreams
And that's another reason I left old Skibbereen

Oh 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 at the dead of night unseen
And I heaved a sigh and I said goodbye to dear old Skibbereen

Oh father dear, the day will come when our vengeance we will call
And Irish men both stout and tall will rally on to the call
I'll be the man to lead the band beneath the flag of green
And loud and high we'll raise the cry: Revenge for Skibbereen!