Skibbereen Lyrics - Hazel O'connor

Oh father dear, I often hear you speak of Erin's isle 

Her lofty scenes, her valley's green, her mountains rude and wild 

They say it is a lovely land wherein a prince might dwell 

Oh, why did you abandon it? The reason to me tell 

Well, I do remember that bleak December day 

The landlord and the sheriff came to drive us all away 

He set my roof on fire when my rent I could not find 

And that's the cruel reason that I left it all behind 

Your mother too, God rest her soul, she fell on snowy ground 

She could not raise her body seeing desolation 'round 

She never rose but slipped away from life to mortal dream 

And found a quiet grave, my boy, in dear old Skibbereen 

And you were only two years old and feeble was your frame 

I could not leave you with my friends, you bore your father's name 

I wrapped you in my cottamore in the dead of night unseen 

I heaved a sigh and bade goodbye to dear old Skibbereen