Sinead O'Connor Skibbereen
O, Father dear, I oft times heard you talk of Erin's
Isle,
Her lofty scene, her valleys green, her mountains rude
and wild
They say it is a pretty place where in a prince might
dwell,
Oh why did you abandon it, the reason to me tell?
Oh son I loved my native land with energy and pride
'Til a blight came over on my crops, my sheep and cattle
died,
The rent and taxes were so high, I could not them redeem,
And that's the cruel reason why I left old Skibbereen.
Oh, It's well I do remember that bleak December day,
The landlord and the sheriff came to drive us all away
They set my roof on fire with their demon yellow spleen
And that's another reason why I left old Skibbereen.
Your mother too, God rest her soul, fell on the snowy
ground,
She fainted in her anguish seeing the desolation round.
She never rose but passed away from life to mortal dream,
She 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 your friends, you bore your
father's name,
I wrapped you in my cta mr in the dead of night unseen
I heaved a sigh and said goodbye to dear old Skibbereen
