Near the town of Liscannor in the county of Clare

Where many great Irishmans plans were laid bare

You saw the wild sea's as you stood on the heath

And wondered and gazed at the ocean beneath

Your life of religion was never to be

you soon found your way to the land of the free



Chorus:



Some men for adventure have planned for the stars

And others had hoped to see Venus or Mars

but you worked and you labored to build your wild dream

That you'd be the man with the first submarine



Now O'Donovan Rossa Bold Breslan Devoy

Knew that Holland's invention was real and no toy

For to take on the ships of the British Navy

And all would be done now from under the sea

The English protested to Old Uncle Sam

About the mischievous boat called the Great Fenian Ram

Oh he's just an inventor we've got nothing to hide

John Bull was so angry when the Yankees replied




Chorus



Neath the waves of the ocean this craft was at home

And the Fenians had plans for this boat for to roam

In the Passaic River, your friends were amazed

As your ship moved so silent neath the rivers and waves

An attack on the Empire was prevented by spies

And the cause was all crushed mid dissension and lies

But Uncle Sam's Navy was so proud of the boat

That the Holland's the name of the first sub afloat



Chorus



Here as I stand beside New York Bay

I can see all the ways you are remembered today

For your name is all written on tunnels and ships

On the streets of New York and on New Jersey's slips

So be proud sons of Erin, an Irishman he

John Holland the first for to voyage 'neath the sea

Leet the Statue of Liberty, a beacon shine free

For John Holland, the first for to voyage 'neath the 

sea.



Chorus