The Inniskilling Dragoon

There was a fair lady lived in Monaghan town
A rich merchant’s daughter of fame and renown
As she strayed by the barracks this beautiful maid
She watched from her carriage the dragoons on parade

Fare you well, Enniskillen, fare you well for a while
And all around the borders of Erin’s green isle
And when the war is over we’ll return in full bloom
And we will all welcome home our Inniskilling dragoon

The dragoons they were dressed up like gentlemen’s sons
With their bright, shining swords and their carabine guns
Their silver-mounted pistols she observed them full soon
All because that she loved her Inniskilling dragoon

Fare you well, Enniskillen, fare you well for a while
And all around the borders of Erin’s green isle
And when the war is over we’ll return in full bloom
And we’ll all welcome home our Inniskilling dragoon

– Oh mother, dear mother, for me do not weep
My mother’s kind advice I am going for to keep
My parents brought me up from a boy unto a man
And I’m going in defence of my own native land

Fare you well, Enniskillen, fare you well for a while
And all around the borders of Erin’s green isle
And when the war is over we’ll return in full bloom
And we’ll all welcome home our Inniskilling dragoon.

Notes from Hugh Shields

Shields Index 206.