The lyrics are not mine. I located them elsewhere on the Internet. I have given all of the credits I could locate.
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C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.
Songs, Hymns, and Lyrics.
The Shan Van Vocht
Street Ballad
1797
OH the French are on the sea,
Says the shan van vocht; 1
The French are on the sea,
Says the shan van vocht:
Oh the French are in the bay, 5
They’ll be here without delay,
And the Orange will decay,
Says the shan van vocht.
Chorus
Oh the French are in the bay,
They’ll be here by break of day, 10
And the Orange will decay,
Says the shan van vocht.
And their camp it shall be where?
Says the shan van vocht;
Their camp it shall be where? 15
Says the shan van vocht:
On the Currach of Kildare,
The boys they will be there,
With their pikes in good repair,
Says the shan van vocht. 20
Chorus
To the Currach of Kildare
The boys they will repair,
And Lord Edward will be there,
Says the shan van vocht.
Then what will the yeomen do? 25
Says the shan van vocht;
What will the yeomen do?
Says the shan van vocht:
What should the yeomen do
But throw off the red and blue, 30
And swear that they’ll be true
To the shan van vocht?
Chorus
What should the yeomen do
But throw off the red and blue,
And swear that they’ll be true 35
To the shan van vocht?
And what color will they wear?
Says the shan van vocht;
What color will they wear?
Says the shan van vocht: 40
What color should be seen
Where our fathers’ homes have been,
But our own immortal Green?
Says the shan van vocht.
Chorus
What color should be seen 45
Where our fathers’ homes have been,
But our own immortal Green?
Says the shan van vocht.
And will Ireland then be free?
Says the shan van vocht; 50
Will Ireland then be free?
Says the shan van vocht:
Yes! Ireland SHALL be free,
From the centre to the sea;
Then hurrah for Liberty! 55
Says the shan van vocht.
Chorus
Yes! Ireland SHALL be free,
From the centre to the sea
Then hurrah for Liberty!
Says the shan van vocht. 60
Note 1. An t-sean bean bochd, “the poor old woman,”—another name for Ireland. The versions of this song are numberless; but that here given is considered the best. The date of its composition in 1797, the period at which the French fleet arrived in Bantry Bay. [back]
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