Lyrics

Fare thee well sweet Malin Head likewise your sea-washed shore
I’m bidding you a long farewell perhaps to see no more
My mind’s made up for to taste the cup and the freedom of Americay
Oh it’s fare thee well sweet Malin Head I may never more see you.

The morning that we parted ‘twas mournful for to see
My friends all gathered around me and my father to me did say
May the hand of God protect you and guide you over the sea
Oh it’s fare thee well sweet Malin Head I may never more see you.

The parting with my own sweetheart it grieves my heart full sore
And when I think of mother dear it grieves me ten times more
For she had died and left me when I was very young
And now I’m forced for to cross the sea a poor exiled widow’s son.

But as I stood to look around my eyes were full of tears
I stood amazed on her I gazed as the fishing boats passed me by
They hoist their sails on the high seas for to join their long day’s toil
It reminded me of my boyhood days and Malin’s ancient soil.

I’ll turn a leaf now in my book I’ll start it in the new
For there’s no one in this wide wide world know the hardship I came through.