here's a dear little isle in the Western Ocean IT'S AN island of purity, holy and grand ITS name fills its daughters and sons with emotion When THEY ARE APART ON a far distant STRAND. It's Ireland, MY COUNTRY, the birthplace of heroes The home of the patriot, warrior and sage Of bards and chieftains whose names live in story May they live forever on history's page.
You once were a proud and a glorious nation Your name and your fame were known all o'er the world 'Til misfortune came o'er you and sad desolation And the emerald banner in slavery lay unfurled. They tortured your children, THEY spoiled your green BANNER They tried to exterminate you long, long, LONG ago But the Irish are somehow like wild, creeping flowers The faster you pluck them, the quicker they SEEM TO grow.
I love every blade of grass green on your mountain, Every leaf on your tree AND every rock on your strand I love your green VALLEYS and murmuring fountains I love you, Acushla, my own dear native land.