Lyrics

From Londonderry we have set sail it being on the eight day of May
Between nine and ten next morning we arrived at Moville Bay
Fresh water we had twenty tons for passengers in store
Least we might run short going to New York far from the shamrock shore.

When we had taken the last fond look of Derry’s ancient town
Let misfortune never light on us nor pull our courage down
She’s the grand female of my heart she’s the girl I do adore
May the angels bright shed soft light around the shamrock shore.

When we will take our last fond look at Malin’s ancient Head
Inishtrahull lies in the nor-east lies in a watery bed
It was a grand sea first appeased my heart and I daily vowed it o’er
And parting with my loving friends all around the shamrock shore.

When we were lying all sea-sick not a passenger was clear
Quite helpless in our bunks we lay no one to ease our pain
Neither father kind or mother dear to lift our heads when sore
And the sun going down between sea and sky far far from the shamrock shore.

Here’s a health to Mr. Rifle he was our chief mate’s name
When we were lying all sea-sick ‘twas him that eased our pain
We will drink his health full glowing glass and we’ll toast him four times four
And it’s deoch an dorais we will drink here’s a health to the shamrock shore.

It’s now we’re safely landed in four and twenty days
We take our comrades by the hand and we’ll go different ways
We take our comrades by the hand in hopes to meet once more
And I hope we’ll meet our loving friends all around the shamrock shore.