The Fenian Charter Song (1867)
By Michael Scanlon of Chicago.
Far, from the hills of Innisfail
We meet in love to-night,
Sons of the scattered Clan-na-Gael,
With spirits warm and bright.
Why do we meet ?
'Tis to repeat
Our vows both night and day
To dear Old Ireland !
Brave Old Ireland !
Ireland, boys, hurrah !
Some left her shores long years ago,
Some never saw her hills ;
But for her glory and her woe,
Each faithful bosom thrills.
We give no cheers,
But vow her tears
Revenge shall wipe away.
Ah! dear Old Ireland !
Brave Old Ireland !
Ireland, boys, hurrah !
We're not the fortune-favoured kind
But rugged sons of toil ;
We've got the muscle and the mind
That spring from Irish soil,
Our toil being done,
And night come on,
We meet to work and pray
For clear Old Ireland !
Brave Old Ireland !
Ireland, boys, hurrah !
We've read of how our fathers fought,
And how our fathers died ;
How creeds divided where they ought
To muster side by side ;
We count the host
That faction lost,
And cast the fiend away,
For dear Old Ireland !
Brave Old Ireland !
Ireland, boys, hurrah !
Let cowards bend in abject prayer ;
Let tyrants frown and threat ;
Be ours the duty to prepare
With sword and bayonet.
Let babblers cease
To prate of peace ;
God send us war, we say,
For dear Old Ireland !
Brave Old Ireland !
Ireland, boys, hurrah !
Our fathers died in olden time,
And left a heritage
(And loving Ireland was their crime),
Of blood and hate and rage.
And by the cross,
There's been no loss--
We hate as strong as they,
For dear Old Ireland !
Brave Old Ireland !
Ireland, boys, hurrah !
Once more we're on the " felon's track"
Red with our father's blood ;
And woe unto the men who'll slack ?
Our spirit's burning blood !
The Green above--
Revenge and Love--
Forward ! and march away
For dear Old Ireland !
Brave Old Ireland !
Ireland, boys, hurrah !
Notes
From the Sydney Newspaper the Freeman's Journal Saturday 11 May 1867 p. 11.
The publication of Irish rebel songs in Australian newspapers is an interesting phenomenon, and Trove has allowed us to discover many long forgotten examples like this one. While the chorus reminds me of the McPeak family -- the famous Belfast ensemble -- song "Ireland Boys Hurrah" the verses of this song are very different, however the tune would fit this song just as well.