Henry's Songbook

What a legacy, such a tragedy
Thousands are sailing, goodbye
The land of the eagle is calling
As we bid the Green Island goodbye

Nobody knows the answers and the dark clouds keep rolling each day
Casting a shadow upon us from Antrim to sweet Bantry Bay
In their droves all the people are leaving, sure 'tis worse than the black forty four
When they sailed away over the ocean with their dreams and their humble sea stores

And it's only six hours to Boston, and if you serve your time on the plane
In no time at all you're a chippy, as good as the rest at the game
In Sally O'Brien's we'll be dancing but we'll go back some day maybe when
The blue moon it hangs over Dublin and the river runs up Spancil Hill

Is this a good time to remember the brave men and women who died
Whose vision is misrepresented by traitors who turn with the tide
Who dish out the perks and the pensions while the Big Fellow turns in his grave
To see the bright diamonds and jewels cast on the cold crest of a wave

Final chorus:
What a legacy, such a tragedy
Thousands are sailing, goodbye
One last longing look cast behind them
As we bid the Green Island goodbye

[1998:] I wrote this emigration song in New York in the early eighties as tens of thousands of well educated young Irish people headed for America in search of work. The antipathy of the Irish government squeezed the song out of me. (Jimmy Crowley, notes 'Uncorked!')