Father's Blessing

Children's laughter children tears

childish joys of childhood years

are just memories of our once happy home

its not death that brings the pain

I would face it all again

but it grieves me so to leave you all along

(Chorus)

Do the wee ones still sigh when they hear their daddy's name

do they sadly ask you why I won't be home again

how hard it is to know I'll never see them grow

let my dying bring for them a better land

May they never know the fears

that blighted my young years

of the shackles that have bound my native land

may they see the joy of life

and not cruel civil strife

foreign laws imposed by brutal strangers hands

(Chorus)

Let them grow in love and truth

let them blossom into youth

guided by their mother's loving hand

let them cherish Ireland's pride

for this Joe McDonnell died

let them know their father loved them and his land

(Chorus)