| |
| BY Memory inspired, | |
| And love of country fired, | |
| The deeds of men I love to dwell upon; | |
| And the patriotic glow | |
| Of my spirits must bestow | 5 |
| 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: | 10 |
| 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 July— | 15 |
| The informer’s pay was high; | |
| When Reynolds gave the gallows brave MacCann; | |
| But MacCann was Reynolds’ first— | |
| One could not allay his thirst; | |
| So he brought up Bond and Byrne, that are gone, boys—gone: | 20 |
| Here’s the memory of the friends that are gone! | |
| |
| We saw a nation’s tears | |
| Shed for John and Henry Shears; | |
| Betrayed by Judas, Captain Armstrong; | |
| We may forgive, but yet | 25 |
| 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; | 30 |
| But 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! | 35 |
| |
| September, Eighteen-three, | |
| Closed this cruel history, | |
| When Emmet’s blood the scaffold flowed upon: | |
| Oh, had their spirits been wise, | |
| They might then realise | 40 |
| Their freedom, but we drink to Mitchell that is gone, boys—gone: | |
| Here’s the memory of the friends that are gone! | |
| |
