Skibbereen (song)

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Skibbereen, also known as Dear Old Skibbereen, is an Irish folk song, in the dialogue of a father telling his son about the Irish famine and the impact of the British Government in Ireland.[1]

The son in the song asks his father why he left the village of Skibbereen, in County Cork, Ireland, to live in another country, to which the father tells him of the hardship he faced in his homeland. It ends on a vengeful note expressed by the son.

The song has been performed live by the Wolfe Tones and Sinéad O'Connor, as well as other contemporary Irish artists, and even Vin Garbutt, an English folk singer of Irish descent.

Serbian band Irish Stew of Sindidun recorded the song on their debut album So Many Words... in 2005.

[edit] Lyrics

O, father dear I often hear you speak of Erin's Isle
Her lofty scenes, her valleys green, her mountains rude and wild
They say it is a lovely land wherein a prince might dwell
So why did you abandon it, the reason to me tell
My son, I loved my native land with energy and pride
Till a blight came over all my crops and my sheep and cattle died
The rents and taxes were to pay and I could not them redeem
And that's the cruel reason (why) I left old Skibbereen
'Tis well I do remember that bleak November (/Dezember) day
When the bailiff and the landlord came to drive us all away
They set the roof on fire with their cursed English spleen
And that's another reason (why) I left old Skibbereen
Your mother, too, God rest her soul, lay on the snowy ground
She fainted in her anguishing seeing the desolation round
She never rose, but passed away from life to immortal dreams
And that's another reason (why) I left old Skibbereen
Oh you were only two years old and feeble was your frame
I could not leave you with my friends for you bore your father's name
So I wrapped you in my cóta mór at the dead of night unseen
And I heaved a sigh and I said goodbye to dear old Skibereen
well father dear, the day will come when on vengeance we shall(/will) call
And Irishmen both stout and tall will rally unto the call
I'll be the man to lead the van beneath the flag of green
And loud and high we'll raise the cry, Revenge for Skibbereen

[edit] Recordings

[edit] References

  1. ^ Skibbereen. URL accessed 13 January, 2007.