When all [G] beside a [C] vigil keep,
The [D] West's asleep, the [G] West's asleep
Alas! and well may [C] Erin weep
When [D] Connacht lies in [G] slumber deep.
There lake and plain smile [C] fair and free,
'Mid [Am] rocks their guardian [D7] chivalry.
Sing, [G] Oh! let [D] man learn [Em] liberty
From lashing [D] wind and crashing
[G] sea.
That chainless wave and lovely land
Freedom and nationhood demand;
Be sure the great God never planned
For slumb'ring slaves a home so
grand.
And long a brave and haughty race
Honoured and sentinelled the place.
Sing, Oh! not even their sons' disgrace
Can quite destroy their glory's trace.
For often, in O'Connor's van,
To triumph dashed each Connacht clan,
And fleet as deer the Normans ran
Thro' Corrsliabh 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.
And if, when all a vigil keep,
The West's asleep! the West's asleep!
Alas! and well may Erin weep
That Connacht lies in slumber deep.
But, hark! a voice like thunder spake,
The West's awake! the West's awake!
Sing, Oh! hurrah! let
England quake,
We'll watch till death for Erin's sake!
