Text
BY MEMORY INSPIRED
By memory inspired
And love of country fired,
The deeds of men I love to dwell upon;
And the patriotic glow
Of my spirit must bestow
A tribute to O'Connell that is gone, boys, gone:
Here's a memory to the friends that are gone!
In October 'Ninety-seven-
May his soul find rest in Heaven-
William Orr to execution was led on:
The jury, drunk, agreed
That IRISH was his creed:
For perjury and threats drove them on, boys, on:
Here's the memory of John Mitchell that is gone!
In 'Ninety-eight - the month of July-
The informer's pay was high:
When Reynolds gave the gallows brave MacCann;
But MacCann was Reynold's first-
One could not allay his thirst;
So he brought up Bond and Byrne that are gone, boys, gone:
Here's the memory of the friends that are done!
We saw a nation's tears
Shed for John and Henry Shears;
Betrayed by Judas, Captain Armstrong;
We may forgive, but yet
We never can forget
The poisoning of Maguire that is gone, boys, gone:
Our high star and true apostle that is gone!
How did Lord Edward die?
Like a man, without a sigh!
And he left his handiwork on Major Swan.
But Sirr, with steel-clad breast,
And coward heart at best,
Left us cause to mourn Lord Edward that is gone, boys, gone:
Here's the memory of our friends that are gone!
September, Eighty-three.
Closed this cruel history,
When Emmet's blood the scaffold flowed upon:
O, had their spirits been wise,
They might then realize
Their freedom - but we drink to Mitchell that is gone, boys, gone:
Here's the memory of our friends that are gone!
T. Kearney