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Oh please ne'er forget me though waves now lie o'er me I was
once young and pretty and my spirit ran free But destiny tore me from
country and loved ones And from the new land I was never to see. A
poor emigrant's daughter too frightened to know I was leaving forever the land
of my soul Amid struggle and fear my parents did pray To place
courage to leave o'er the longing to stay. They spoke of a new land
far away 'cross the sea And of peace and good fortune for my brothers and
me So we parted from townland with much weeping and pain 'Kissed the
loved ones and the friends we would ne'er see again. The vessel was
crowded with disquieted folk The escape from past hardship sustaining
their hope But as the last glimpse of Ireland faded into the mist
Each one fought back tears and felt strangely alone. The seas roared
in anger, making desperate our plight And a fever came o'er me that
worsened next night Then delirium possessed me and clouded my mind
And I for a moment saw that land left behind. I could hear in the distance
my dear mother's wailing And the prayers of three brothers that I'd see no
more And I felt father's tears as he begged for forgiveness For seeking
a new life on the still distant shore. Oh please ne'er forget me
though waves now lie o'er me I was once young and pretty and my spirit ran
free But destiny tore me from country and loved ones And from the new
land I was never to see. |
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