Lyrics

On the eighteenth of May for my recreation
By the banks of the Liffey I chanced for to stray
The green fields and meadows with flowers were spangled
The birds sweetly sang and the lambs they did play

I espied a poor woman all dressed in deep mourning
A babe at her bosom she tenderly bore
She cried with emotion alas your dear father
My husband Dan Curley I’ll see him no more

I stepped up to her says I m dear woman
You seem heavy burdened with sorrow and woe
Has some naughty landlord to you been cruel
The cause of your sorrow I’d like for to know

Kind sir she replied the truth I will tell you
My bosom is wrecked and my head almost bored
For the Phoenix Park murders my husband has suffered
And now in this wide world I’ll see him no more

James Carey that false-hearted traitor of Erin
To gain a reward informer he turned
By informing on others he escaped from the gallows
Oh my husband Dan Curley I’ll see him no more

May he be evicted may his wife be a widow
May his children grow wanderers from Erin’s green shore
May the curse of each orphan and widow light on him
My husband Dan Curley I’ll see him no more

On the eighteenth of May for the Phoenix Park murders
Lord Cavendish and Burke lay all in their gore
‘Twas by Carey’s advice these crimes were committed
My husband Dan Curley I’ll see him no more

He is gone from this wide world but a short while before me
I hope we’ll rejoin on the next happy shore
Where the angels of glory they sing God’s praises
I’ll meet my Dan Curley and we’ll never part more