Old Skibbereen

[Am] Oh [G] father dear I [Am] oft-times hear you [G] talk of [F] Erin´s [Am] Isle

Her lofty [C] scene and [Am] valley [G] green, her [Am] mountains [C] rude and [Am] wild

They say it [C] is a [Am] pretty [G] place where-[Am] in a [C] prince might [Am] d´well

Then [G] why did you [Am] abondon it? The [G] reason [F] to me [Am] tell.

 

My son I loved our native land with energy and pride

Until a blight came on the land and sheep and cattle died,

The rent and taxes were to pay, I could not them redeem,

And that´s the cruel reason why I left old Skibbereen

 

It´s well I do remember that bleak December day,

The landlord and the sheriff came to drive us all away;

They set the roof on fire with their demon yellow spleen,

And that´s another reason why I left old Skibbereen.

 

It´s well I do remember the year of forty-eight

When I arose with Erin´s boys to fight against the fate,

I was hunted through the mountains for a traitor to the Queen

And that´s another reason why I left old Skibbereen.

 

Oh father dear, the day will come when vengeance loud will call,

And we will rise with Erin´s boys and rally one and all,

I´ll be the man to lead the van beneath our flag of green,

And loud and high we´ll raise the cry:´Revenge for Skibereen´.