Henry's Songbook

From Derry quai we sailed away
On the 23rd of May
We were taken on board by a pleasant crew
Bound for Americay
Fresh water there we did take on
Five thousand gallons or more
In case we'd run short going to NewYork
Far away from the Shamrock shore.

So fare thee well, sweet Lisa dear
And likewise to Derry town,
And twice farewell to my comrades bold,
Who still dwell on that sainted ground
If ever fortune will favour me
And I do have money in store,
I will come back and wed the sweet Lassie I left
On Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore

We sailed three days, we were all seasick
And no-one on board was free,
We were all confined unto our bunks
With no one to pity poor me,
No fond mother dear, no father kind
To comfort my head went to sore
This made me think more on the wee girl I left
On Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore.

We savely reached the other side
In fifteen and twenty days,
We were taken as passengers by a man
And led round in six different ways,
So each of us drunk a parting glas
In case that we never meet more,
And we bade farewell to old Ireland
And Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore.

So fare thee well, sweet Lisa dear
And likewise to Derry town,
And twice farewell to my comrades bold,
Who still dwell on that sainted ground
If fame or fortune will favour me
And I do have money in store,
I'll go back and I'll wed the wee Lassy I left
On Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore.

As sung by Kevin Conneff / Chieftains
Sung by Henry / Schlagsaite on Tape: Hände Hoch

  [1968:] Any connoisseur of traditional Irish music and song would be pardoned for viewing the title of this song with a certain amount of suspicion, having subconsciously put it on a par with such nauseous pieces of work as Paddy McGinty's Goat, Galway Bay, My Heart's In the Heart of Killarney or for that matter any of those songs pertaining to the 'Isle of Shamrocks and Shillelaghs'. [...] However, titles can be misleading, as is this one, and the song is in fact traditional - again a Northern one and probably from Donegal - and at most can be faulted on the rather over-sentimental and hence somewhat unrealistic treatment of emigration. (Notes The Johnstons, 'The Barley Corn')