Seán Ó Duibhir a Ghleanna

A Beautiful song, one of several (both in English and Irish) which shares this tune. More information coming soon.

 

 

How oft at sunny morning

Sunlight all adorning

I hear the horn give warning

‘Mid the birds mellow call.

Badgers flee before us

Woodcocks startle o’er us

And guns give ringing chorus

‘Mid the echoes all.

The fox runs higher and higher

Huntsmen shouting nigh her

A maiden lying by her fowl

Left wounded in his gore.

Now they fell the wildwood

Farewell home of childhood

Sean O Duibhir an Gleanna

Your day it is o’er.

 

‘Tis my sorrow sorest

Sad the falling forest

The north wind brings me no rest

And death is in the sky.

My noble hounds tied tightly

Never sporting brightly

Would make a child laugh lightly

With a tear in its eye.

The antlered noble-hearted

Stags are never started

Never chased nor parted

From the furzy field.

If peace comes but a small way

I’ll journey down to Galway

I’ll leave, but not for always

My Erin of ills.

 

Land of streams and valleys

Has no head nor rallies

In city, camp or palace

They never toast her name.

Where the warrior column

From Clyne to peaks of Collum

All wasted hills and solemn

The wild hare grows tame.

When will come the routing

Shocks of churls and flouting?

I hear no joyful shouting

From the blackbird brave.

Ne’er warlike is the yeoman

Justice comes to no man

And priests must flee the foeman

To the mountain cave.

 

‘Tis my woe and ruin

Sinless death’s undoing

Came not to the strewing

Of all my bright hopes.

How oft of sunny morning

I watched the sun returning

The autumn maples burning

And dew on the woodland slopes.

But now my lands are plundered

Far my friends are sundered

And I must hide me under

The branch and bramble screen.

If soon I cannot save me

From flights of foes who crave me

Oh death at last I’ll brave thee

My bitter foes between.

For now they fell the wildwood

Farewell home of childhood

Sean O Duibhir an Ghleanna

Your day it is o’er.