Henry's Songbook

In the city of Chicago, as the evening shadows fall
There are people dreaming of the hills of Donegal

Eighteen forty-seven was the year it all began
Deadly pains of hunger drove a million from the land
They journeyed not for glory, their motive wasn't greed
A voyage of survival across the stormy sea

To the city of Chicago, as the evening shadows fall
There are people dreaming of the hills of Donegal

Some of them knew fortune and some of them knew fame
More of them knew hardship, died upon the plane
They spread throughout the nation, they rode the railroad cars
Brought their songs and music to ease their lonely hearts

To the city of Chicago, as the evening shadows fall
There are people dreaming of the hills of Donegal

As sung by Christy Moore

[1984:] Based on the famine years when so many hundreds of thousands emigrated to America, leaving behind millions who died of hunger. (Christy Moore Songbook 114)