| Paddy's Lamentation |
| This song shows some of the discord in the Union army. Large numbers of the union force were made up of immigrants. This increased as the war went on. Many would get off the boat when they got here and immediately be signed into the army. Much was done by trickery. Those who could not speak English for example were easily tricked into signing papers enlisting them into the army. Irish were often told, while still in Ireland, that if they would agree to come to the United States that they would be given a government job. Now the starving Irish could not tune down such a deal, but we all know what they really got. The Union army with all of its numerical advantages preferred to let others fight their war. How sad is that. That is why many in the south referred to the Union army as Hessians or mercenaries. |
| Well it's by the hush, me boys, and sure that's to hold your noise And listen to poor Paddy's sad narration I was by hunger pressed, and in poverty distressed So I took a thought I'd leave the Irish nation Here's to you boys, now take my advice To America I'll have ye's not be going There is nothing here but war, where the murderin' cannons roar And I wish I was at home in dear old Dublin Well I sold me ass and cow, my little pigs and sow My little plot of land I soon did part with And me sweetheart Bid McGee, I'm afraid I'll never see For I left her there that morning broken-hearted Well meself and a hundred more, to America sailed o'er Our fortunes to be made [sic] we were thinkin' When we got to Yankee land, they shoved a gun into our hands Saying "Paddy, you must go and fight for Lincoln" General Meagher to us he said, if you get shot or lose your head Every murdered soul of youse will get a pension Well meself I lost me leg, they gave me a wooden peg, And by God this is the truth to you I mention Well I think meself in luck, if I get fed on Indian buck And old Ireland is the country I delight in With the devil, I do say, it's curse Americay For I think I've had enough of your hard fightin' |
| Due to the potato famine I was starving and I went to America looking for a better future. |
| He speaks again of going to find a better future, but he is thrown into this conflict that is not his. |