PADDY’S LAMENTATION

Chanson écrite pendant la guerre de Sécession, entre 1861 et 1865, à propos de l’Irish Brigade, commandée par le Brigadier Général Thomas Francis Meagher, indépendantiste irlandais condamné à mort en Angleterre , gracié et emprisonné en Australie, évadé vers New-York.

Well it’s by the hush, me boys,
and sure that’s to hold your noise
And listen to poor Paddy’s sad narration
I was by hunger pressed, and in poverty distressed
So I took a thought I’d leave the Irish nation

Well I sold me horse and cow, my little pigs and sow
My little plot of land I soon did part with
And me sweetheart Bid McGee,
I’m afraid I’ll never see
For I left her there that morning broken-hearted

Here’s you boys, now take my advice
To America I’ll have ye’s not be coming
There is nothing here but war,
where the murderin’ cannons roar
And I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin

Well meself and a hundred more,
to America sailed o’er
Our fortunes to be made we were thinkin’
When we got to Yankee land,
they shoved a gun into our hands
Saying « Paddy, you must go and fight for Lincoln »