The West Awake
The West Awake
When all beside a vigil keep,
the west`s asleep, the west`s asleep,
A las, and well may Erin weep,
that Connaught lies in slumber deep; There
lake and plain smile fair and free,
`mid rocks their guardian chivalry.
Sing: oh let man learn liberty,
from crahing wind and lashing sea.
The 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 proud and haughty race
honoured and sentinelled the place
Sing: oh not e`en their son`s
disgrave can quite destroy their glory`s trace.
For often in O`connor`s van,
to triumph dashed each Connaught clan,
And fleet as deer the Normans ran,
through Curlew`s Pass and Ardrahan;
And latter 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,
A las, and well my Erin weep,
that Connaught 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.