Once, Robert Emmet etched his name, upon an upstairs window pane
Of, the Dublin pub, my mother owned, a long long time ago,
The oldest tavern, in the land, still brazen, by the Liffey stands,
Defying time and god and man, for nine hundreds years and more.
And from my infant years I grew, In rooms that Tone and Davitt knew
Joyce and Swift and Collins too. Those hero's one and all
A safe house for the brave and free, and all who treasure liberty
Still calling out to you and me, from creaking floors and ancient walls,
And as this cities evening bells, ring out across the liffy swells
The ghosts still weave their haunting spells, as the evening shadows fall.
They say their task is left undone, that there are battles to be won,
By you and me and everyone, who would answer Irelands call.
As we struggle through these troubled days, the Oliver and Fagan ways
Humiliated and betrayed, pickpocketed of dreams...
Those we trusted, with the task to lead, repayed us with deceit and greed,
Now were' paying for the lives they lead, far way, beyond our means,
But shadows mean, the sun still shines, On this beloved land of mine,
And I hope, for better times, for the sunshine after rain.
When we will face the final test, and lay those troubled ghost to rest,
Change our Emerald Island of the west, Into, a nation once again
Yes shadows mean the sun still shines, on this beloved land of mine
And I hope and pray for better times, for the sunshine after rain,
When we will face the final test, and lay those troubled ghosts to rest
Change our Emerald Island of the west, Into a nation once again...
Once Robert Emmet etched his name... Upon an upstairs window pane
Of the Dublin pub my mother owned, A long long time ago...