Song Description

Boy finds out why his daddy left Ireland and wants to go there and seek vengenece

Lyrics

Oh father dear I often hear you speak of Aran's Isle
Her lofty scenes her valleys green her mountains crude and wild
They say it is a lovely place wherein a prince might dwell
So why did you abandon it, the reason to me tell
Oh son I loved me native land with energy and pride
Til a blight came over all me crops and me sheep and cattle died
The rent and taxes were to pay but them I could not redeem
And that is a reason I left old Skibereen
Oh well I do remember that bleak November day
When bailiff and the landlord came to drive us all away
They lit our roof on fire with their cursed English spleen
And that's another reason I left old Skibereen
Oh your mother dear God bless her soul fell on the snowy ground
She fainted in her anguish seeing the desolation 'round
She never rose, but passed away, to life's immortal dream
And that's the cruel reason I left old Skibereen
Oh you were only three years old and feable was your frame
I could not leave you with me friends for you bore your fathers name
I wrapped you in my cotemore and fled into the night unseen
And I heaved a sigh, and said goodbye, to dear old Skibereen
Oh father dear the day will come when a vengeance we will call
And Irish men both tall and stout will rally one and all
I'll be the man to lead the band beneath the flag of green
And loud and high, we'll raise the cry, revenge for Skibereen