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The Men of the West |
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(William Rooney) |
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When you honor in song and in story |
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The names of the patriot men, |
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Whose valor has covered with glory |
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Full many a mountain and glen, |
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Forget not the boys of the heather |
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Who rallied their bravest and best |
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When Ireland was broken in Wexford |
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And looked for revenge to the West. |
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cho: I give you the gallant old West, boys, |
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Where rallied our bravest and best |
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When Ireland lay broken and bleeding; |
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Hurrah for the men of the West! |
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The hilltops with glory were glowing |
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'Twas the eve of a bright harvest day, |
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When the ship we'd been wearily waiting |
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Sailed into Killala's broad bay. |
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And over the hills went the slogan |
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To awaken in every breast |
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The fire that has never been quenched, boys, |
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Among the true hearts of the West. |
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cho: |
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Killala was ours ere the midnight, |
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And high over Ballina town |
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Our banners in triumph were waving |
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Before the next sun had gone down. |
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We gathered to speed the good work, boys |
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The true men from near and afar; |
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And history can tell how we routed |
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The redcoats through old Castlebar. |
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cho: |
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And pledge me the stout sons of France, boys, |
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Bold Humbert and all his brave men, |
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Whose tramp, like the trumpet of battle, |
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Brought hope to the drooping again. |
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Since Ireland has caught to her bosom |
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On many a mountain and hill |
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The gallants who fell, so they're here, boys, |
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To cheer us to victory still. |
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cho: |
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Though all the bright dreamings we cherished |
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Went down in disaster and woe, |
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The spirit of old is still with us |
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That never would bend to the foe. |
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And Connaught is ready whenever |
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The loud rolling tuck of the drum |
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Rings out to awaken the echoes |
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And tell us the morning has come. |
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cho: |
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Recorded by Clancys, Patrick Galvin |
