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