A little bit of heaven
Sure, a little bit o’ heaven fell from out of the sky one day,
And nestled on the ocean in a spot so far away;
And the angels found it, sure it looked so sweet and fair.
They said suppose we leave it, for it looks so peaceful there!
So they sprinkled it with star dust just to make the shamrocks grow;
‘Tis the only place you’ll find them,
No matter where you go;
Then they dotted it with silver,
To make its lakes so grand,
And when they had it finished,
Sure they called it IRELAND!

 

A Fenian Song
1. The Queen's Own Regiment was their name;
From fair Toronto town they came
To put the Irish all to shame -
The Queen's and Colonel Boker!

2. What fury fills each loyal mind!
No volunteer would stay behind.
They flung their red rag to the wind -
"Hurrah, my boys!" said Boker.

3. Now helter skelter Ohio,
See how they play that "heel and toe"!
See how they run from their Irish foe -
The Queen's and Colonel Boker!

A Nation Once Again
• When boyhood’s fire was in my blood, I read of ancient freemen,
For Greece and Rome, who bravely stood, three hundred and three men.
And then I prayed I yet might see, our fetters rent in twain,
And Ireland’s long a province, be a nation once again.
Chorus: A Nation once again, A Nation once again,
And Ireland long a province, be a Nation once again.

And from that time through wildest woe, that hope has shone a far light;
Nor could love’s brightest summer glow outshine that solemn starlight.
It seemed to watch above my head, in forum, field and fane;
Its angel voice sang round my bed, ‘A nation once again.’

It whispered too that freedom’s ark, and service high and holy,
Would be profaned by feeling dark, and passions vain and lowly;
For freedom comes from God’s right hand, and needs a godly train;
And righteous men must make our land a nation once again.

So as I grew from boy to man, I bent me to that bidding -
My spirit of each selfish plan, and cruel passion ridding;
For thus, I hoped some day to aid - Oh, can such hope be vain?
When my dear country shall be made a nation once again.

 

Arthur McBride
I had a first cousin called Arthur McBride,
He and I took a stroll down by the seaside,
A-seeking good fortune and what might betide,
It being on Christmas morning.

And then after resting we both took a tramp,
We met Seargent Pepper and Corporal Cramp,
Besides the wee drummer who beat up for camp,
With hi rowdy dow-dow in the morning.

He says my good fellows, if you will enlist,
A Guinea you quickly shall have in your fist,
Besides a crown for to kick up the dust,
And drink the king's health in the morning.

Had we been such fools as to take the advance,
The wee bitter morning we had run to chance,
For you'd think it no scruple to send us to France,
Where we would be killed in the morning.

He says My young fellows, if I hear but one word,
I instantly now will out with my sword,
And into your bodies as strength will afford,
So now, my gay devils take warning.

But Arthur and I we took in the odds,
We gave them no chance to lunge out their swords,
Our whacking shillelaghs came over their heads,
And paid them right smart in the morning.

As for the wee drummer, we rifled his pouch,
And we made a football of his rowdy dow-dow,
And into the ocean to rock and to row,
And bade him a tedious returning.

As for the old rapier that hung by his side,
We flung it as far as we could in the tide,
To the devil I bid you, says Arthur McBride,
To temper your steel in the morning.

 

As I Roved Out
And who are you, my pretty fair maid,
And who are you, my darling?
And who are you, my pretty fair maid
And who are you, my darling?
She answered me quite modestly,
"I am my mother's darling."

With my too-ry-ay,
Fol-diddle-la,
Fol-diddle-la-fol-deri oh.

And will you come to my house in the middle of the night,
When the moon is shining clearly ( repeat )
I'll open the door and I'll let you in
And divil 'o one would hear us.

So I went to her house in the middle of the night
When the moon was shining clearly ( repeat )
Shc opened the door and she let me in
And divil the one did hear us.
She took my horse by the bridle and the bit
And she led him to the stable ( repeat )
Saying "There's plenty of oats for a soldier's horse,
To eat it if he's able."

Then she took me by the lily-white hand,
And she led me to the table ( repeat )
Saying "There's plenty of wine for a soldier boy,
To drink it if you're able."

Then I got up and made the bed,
And I made it nice and aisy ( repeat )
Then I got up and laid her down
Saying "Lassie, are you able?"

And there we lay till the break of day
And divil a one did hear us ( repeat )
Then I arose and put on me clothes
Saying "Lassie, I must leave you."

And when will you return again
And when will we get married ( repeat )
When broken shells make Christmas bells
We might well get married.

 

Avondale
Oh, have you been to Avondale,
And lingered in its lovely vale,
Where tall trees whisper and know the tale,
Of Avondale’s proud eagle.

Where pride and ancient glory fade,
So was the land where he was laid,
Like Christ was thirty pieces paid,
For Avondale’s proud eagle.

Long years that green and lovely vale,
Has nursed Parnell, her grandest Gael,
And curse the land that has betrayed
Fair Avondale’s proud eagle.