[00:13.080]Oh woeful was the day when I was pressed to sail afar
[00:25.520]And leave behind the girl I loved in the town of Ballinagard
[00:33.100]The shady groves were my delight till I was forced to sail
[00:40.320]You all may guess at my distress lying in the Nightingale
[00:48.730]Grief and woe that I must go and fight for England’s King
[00:55.720]I do not know his friends or foe and war’s a cruel thing
[01:02.870]The Nightingale lies near at hand, my time alas is brief
[01:10.390]From pearling streams and mountain rills I part with bitter grief
[01:18.840]No more I’ll walk the golden hills with Nancy by my side
[01:25.910]Or stroll along the sun-bright rills or view my land with pride
[01:33.520]We sail away at dawn of day. Our sails are ready set.
[01:40.790]When Old Ireland’s shore I see no more, I will sigh with deep regret
[01:52.380]
[02:10.730]Now all is changed and I must range across the ocean wide
[02:23.790]Our ship she may in Biscay Bay be sunk beneath the tide
[02:31.160]If I should fall by a cannonball or sink beneath the sea
[02:38.620]Good people all, a tear let fall and mourn for mine and me
[02:47.370]But if God should spare my graying hair and bring me back again
[02:55.880]I will love far more my Antrim shore, it’s dark blue hills and glens
[03:03.410]Around my fire but one desire God grant till life shall fail
[03:10.500]To keep me far from cruel war and from the Nightingale
[03:19.930]To keep me far from cruel war and from the Nightingale
[03:30.460]