The Irish Exile

I'm sitting on the stile, Mary, where we sat side by side
On that bright May morning long ago when first you were my bride
The corn was springing fresh and green, the lark sang loud and high
And the red was in your lips, Mary, and the love light in your eyes

The place is little changed, Mary, and the day is bright as then
The lark's loud song is in my ear and the corn is green again
But I miss the soft clasp of your hand and your breath warming my cheeks
And I still keep listening for the words you never more will speak

Tis but a step down yonder lane and a little church stands near,
The church where we were wed, Mary, I see the spire from here
But the graveyard lies between, Mary, and my step might break your rest
For I've laid you, darling, down to sleep with your baby in your breast

Yours was the good brave heart, Mary, that still kept hoping on
When the trust in God had left my soul and my arm's strength was gone
There was comfort ever on your lips and a kind look on your brow
I thank you, Mary, for that same, though you can't hear me now

I'm bidding you a long farewell, my Mary kind and true
But I won't forget you, darling, in the land I'm going to
They say there's bread and work for all and the sun shines always there
But I won't forget old Ireland were it fifty times as fair

And often in those grand old woods I will sit and shut my eyes
And my mind will ramble back again to the place where Mary lies
And I think I see that little stile where we sat side by side
In the springing corn and bright May morn when first you were my bride

The Bright Silvery Light of the Moon

Twas down in Killala in the marry month of May
When the roses and the heather was in bloom
A fair lady passed me by and she winked with her right eye
By the bright silvery light of the moon

Twas a case of love at sight, but to us it was delight
We got cuddled up together very soon
We got married straight away in the church at Killala
By the bright silvery light of the moon

But she squandered all my dough, to our home we had to go
O what a place to spend a honeymoon
With no fire in the grate, only looking at the plates
By the bright silvery light of the moon

But when we went to bed it is then I got in dread
For I knew that I was going far too soon
For twas there upon a chair I see her golden hair
By the bright silvery light of the moon

But the worst was yet in store, for when she began to snore
She nearly pulled the blanket round the room
And twas there upon a peg I see her wooden leg
By the bright silvery light of the moon

Now young fellas if you meet a fair lady down the street
Try her well before you plan your honeymoon
Pull her leg and pull her hair and make sure that she's all there
By the bright silvery light of the moon

The Mother

The mother sat still with snow-white hair, so feeble and worn with care
The son at her side in manhood's pride was bonny, tall and fair
So ready at hand, so fleet in foot that his heart was in her mind
That he had forgot the tender care that was still to his mother's right

For the loveless wrong and the cruel word was easy to do and say
Till sorely wounded with blushing cheeks she answered him thus one day:
If only the past could speak, my son, you never would do me wrong
How I carried thee in those trembling arms (?) thee all day long

Loving and guiding and watching thee till the years had made thee strong
If only thou would remember this, you never would do me wrong
But now I'm cast upon your love, I'm feeble, old and grey
O son that I nursed long years ago, remember my love today

He dropped at his knee as in olden days for pardon and love to seek
Her grey head bowed with loving care and the tears ran down his cheeks
And ever since (?) in his strong arms did rest
For he never forgot that once he lay an infant upon her breast

O men in your strength and hope and pride, O maids in your youth and charm
Remember that when an infant once you lay on your mother's arms
Remember she then was fair and young and you'll grow old and grey
And the wrong and the right you'll do to her will fall back on yourself some day

The Colleen Bawn

O rise up Willy Reilly, and come along with me
I mean to go along with you and leave this country
To leave my father's dwelling house, his houses and free land.
And away goes Willy Reilly and his dear Colleen Bawn.

They go by hills and mountains and by yon lonesome plains
Through shady groves and valleys all dangers to refrain
But her father followed after with a well-armed band
And taken was poor Reilly and his dear Colleen Bawn

It was home then she was taken and in her closet bound
Poor Reilly lay in Sligo jail upon the stony ground
Till at the bar of justice before the judge he'd stand
For nothing but the stealing of his dear Colleen Bawn

The jailer's son to Reilly goes and thus to him did say:
O rise up Willy Reilly, you must appear today
For great squire Follard's anger you never shall withstand
I'm afraid you'll suffer sorely for your dear Colleen Bawn

Now Willy dressed from top to toe all in a suit of green
His hair hangs oer his shoulders, most glorious to be seen
He's tall and straight and comely as any can be found
He's fit for Follard's daughter was she heiress to a crown

O Gentlemen, squire Follard said, with pity look on me
This villain came amongst us to disgrace my family
And by his base contrivances this villainy was planned
If I don't get satisfaction I'll quit this Irish land

The lady with a tear began and thus replied she:
The fault is none of Reilly's, the blame lies all on me
I forced him for to leave his home and come along with me
I loved him out of measure O which wrought our destiny

O my lord he stole from her her diamonds and her rings
Gold watch and silver buckles and many precious things
Which cost me in bright guineas more than five hundred pounds
I'll have the life of Reilly should I lose ten thousand pounds

O my lord I gave them as tokens of true love
And when we are a-parting I will them all remove
If you have got them, Reilly, will you send them home to me?
I will, my loving lady, with many thanks to thee

There is a ring amongst them I'll allow yourself to wear
With thirty locket diamonds well set in silver fair
And as a true love's token wear it on your right hand
That you'll think of my old broken heart when you're in a foreign land

Then out spoke the noble Fox: You must let this prisoner go
The lady's oath has cleared him, as the jury all may know
She has released her own true love, she has renewed his name
May her honor bright gain high estate and her offspring rise to fame

St. James's Hospital

Once I was walking by St. James's Hospital
Bright was the morning and clear was the day
Who should I meet but a faithful companion
Wrapped up in flannels all ready to die

From her sweet lips a few words was spoken
From her sweet lips a few words there came:
This is a warning for young girls' protection
Which causes their ruin and leads them astray

If I had done what my old mother told me
What a good girl would I be today
Everyone hates me, my name does disgrace me
Often she told me but now I am late

Daughter, dear daughter, tis often I told you
Often I told you but now you are late
To stop your streetwalking and all your old talking
Often I told you but now you are late

Show me that young man that hangs round the corner
Show me that young man that dresses so gay
First your true lover, now your deceiver
Show me that young man that led you astray

That is a question that I cannot answer
He put me in a hack and he drove me away
First by the white house, then by the red house
Into the black house and out to my grave

There lies the body of one that was handsome
There lies the body of one that was fair
There lies the body of a lovely young lassie
Who died from destruction one bright summer's day

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