by kara kunst
life o'fun and dance no more
it washed away on the rocky shore
poverty came and there was no coal
no heat in my home no food in my bowl
the green hills and d'river Shannon
are no longer beautiful to a beggar woman
searching the streets for coal and wood
begging merchants for clothes and food
comin' home to a flood all through the house
stepin' in cold water and maybe a mouse
happily the family moves upstairs
to a not much warmer place, but no one cares
too poor for blankets on d'bed
we use old coats to cover us instead
me brothers and I all sleep together
one bed for us and one for me mother and father
me dad, however is never there
he lives in the pub and drinks his beer
he sings as he comes down the lane
waking up neighbors, claiming he's insane
he makes me and me brothers rise
wake up, wake up and say you'll die
you'll fight to your death til' this country is saved
it will be the road to freedom that you've paved
he says if we say we'll die for Ireland, home of the free
he'll give a nickle to me brothers and me
what a lie I know he's tell'n to me
I am lucky to get a wee penny
will I survive, I sometimes wonder
will I live a life of fear and hunger
can't you see the message I am sendin'
for Irish tales don't have happy endin's