| lyric | 1. When all beside a vigil keep,
the West’s asleep, the West’s asleep, alas,
and well may Erin weep,
that Connaught lies in slumber deep.
There lake und plaine smile fair and free,
’mid rocks their guardian chivalry,
sing: Oh, let man llearn liberty,
from crashing wind und lashing sea.
2. That chainless wave and loveley land,
Freedom and Nationhood demand,
Be sure the great God never planned,
For slumbering slaves a home so grand;
And long a proud and haughty race,
Honoured and sentinelled the place,
Sing, Oh, not even their son’s disgrace,
Can quite destroy their glory’s trace.
3. For often in O’Connors van,
To triumph dashed each Connacht clan,
And fleet as deer the Normans ran,
Through Curlew’s Pass and Ardrahan;
And later times saw deeds as brave,
And glory guards Clanricarde’s grave,
Sing, Oh, they died their land to save,
At Aughrim’s slopes and Shannon’s wave.
4. And if, when all a vigil keep,
The West’s asleep, the West’s asleep,
Alas and well may Erin weep,
That Counnaght lies in slumber deep;
But hark, a voice like thunder spake,
The West’s awake, the West’s awake,
Sing, Oh, Hurray, let England quake,
We’ll watch till death for Erin’s sake. |