Lines on the Famine in Ireland [i] or the apparition at Knock 1879
Air. Patrick Sheehan
All you kind hearted Irishmen
I hope you will draw near,
For sad and dismal is the news
That I have brought you hear.
Concerning dear old Ireland
And the state of Irishmen
In that blooming Shamrock Shore
My own dear native land.
In the western part of Ireland
'Tis dreadful {to be seen} behold
As people dying every day
In that bright and happy land
Meat nor firing can't be got
By any working man
A man with a small family
Take pity on him now
Struck down with poverty and grief
And exposed to winters cold
No food they had got to eat
Nor a fire for to put on
I hope the world will now be friend
Those people are kept down
In the height of their great famine
Our blessed Lady came,
With St. Joseph and John the evangelist
Those holy heavenly names.
In the county of Mayo
That holy blessed spot,
Six miles from Claremorris town
In the chapel called Knock.
'Twas on the twenty first of August
This apparition first was seen,
For over twenty persons
Viewed this heavenly scene.
They stood three hours in fervent prayer
Their eyes to heaven looked,
John the Evangelist at her side
In his left hand a book.
I think that I will finish up
And take my pen in hand,
For Peter McAuley is my name
A true born Irishman.
I hope plentiness soon will flow
In that land that I do love,
So mother pray for Erin's sons
On that bright throne above.
