Finbar Magee Song Lyrics
THE HILLS OF SWEET LISLEA
Oh My dearest Martha
Forgive the shaking hand
We’re waiting to go over
To go to no man’s land
Though we know many will fall
We must be ready when we hear the call
Oh I wish I was far away from this hell
And in your arms to stay
Until we grow old
Grow old and grey
With you to hold
I would never ever stray
From the bonny bonny hills of sweet Lislea
Save James from being a soldier
May he never cross that line
And you - my life’s companion
I’m sorry we hadn’t more time
I was blessed the day we first met
Down by Camlough lake in your lilac dress
And I was bIessed the day that you said yes
To be as one always
Until we grow old
Grow old and grey
With you to hold
I would never ever stray
From the bonny bonny hills of sweet Lislea
And so the hour’s upon us
The whistle soon will blow
Here in my breast pocket
They will find this final note
Here beside your photograph
With your lock of hair beside my heart
Oh I pray tomorrow I can rip it apart
And live to see the day
Until we grow old
Grow old and grey
With you to hold
I would never ever stray
From the bonny bonny hills
Those rolling bonny hills
From the bonny bonny hills sweet of Lislea
Oh My dearest Martha
Forgive the shaking hand
We’re waiting to go over
To go to no man’s land
Though we know many will fall
We must be ready when we hear the call
Oh I wish I was far away from this hell
And in your arms to stay
Until we grow old
Grow old and grey
With you to hold
I would never ever stray
From the bonny bonny hills of sweet Lislea
Save James from being a soldier
May he never cross that line
And you - my life’s companion
I’m sorry we hadn’t more time
I was blessed the day we first met
Down by Camlough lake in your lilac dress
And I was bIessed the day that you said yes
To be as one always
Until we grow old
Grow old and grey
With you to hold
I would never ever stray
From the bonny bonny hills of sweet Lislea
And so the hour’s upon us
The whistle soon will blow
Here in my breast pocket
They will find this final note
Here beside your photograph
With your lock of hair beside my heart
Oh I pray tomorrow I can rip it apart
And live to see the day
Until we grow old
Grow old and grey
With you to hold
I would never ever stray
From the bonny bonny hills
Those rolling bonny hills
From the bonny bonny hills sweet of Lislea
My Belfast Love
(played with cappo on 2nd fret)
D G Am Bm C
One aimless walk through Ormeau Park
G Em D/F#
One cold gray autumn morning
G Am Bm C
A diamond bright came into sight
G D/F#
Just like a jewel shone
D/F# Em Bm C
With sapphire eyes to hypnotise
G Em D/F#
You cast on me a spell
G Am Bm C
And ruby lips I longed to kiss
G D/F# G
But had not the nerve to tell
When you greeted me so graciously
You set my heart aglow
Like a child I was beguiled
I just had to know
Your name and from where you came
With me would you go
To the end of time would you be mine
To let this blossom grow
D/F# Em Bm C
You are my Bel-fast love
G Em D/F#
There’s no one above you
G Am Bm C
You’re my Belfast belle you see CHORUS
G Am Bm C
There’s no one but you for me
G Am Bm C
And I will love you endless-ly
G D/F# G
You... my Belfast love
Come take my hand across this land
I’d fly you to the moon
Sail with me the seven seas
Each day would end too soon
And if we are graced with young
This story to them I will tell
How we first kissed in the autumn mist
How deep in love I fell
CHORUS
(played with cappo on 2nd fret)
D G Am Bm C
One aimless walk through Ormeau Park
G Em D/F#
One cold gray autumn morning
G Am Bm C
A diamond bright came into sight
G D/F#
Just like a jewel shone
D/F# Em Bm C
With sapphire eyes to hypnotise
G Em D/F#
You cast on me a spell
G Am Bm C
And ruby lips I longed to kiss
G D/F# G
But had not the nerve to tell
When you greeted me so graciously
You set my heart aglow
Like a child I was beguiled
I just had to know
Your name and from where you came
With me would you go
To the end of time would you be mine
To let this blossom grow
D/F# Em Bm C
You are my Bel-fast love
G Em D/F#
There’s no one above you
G Am Bm C
You’re my Belfast belle you see CHORUS
G Am Bm C
There’s no one but you for me
G Am Bm C
And I will love you endless-ly
G D/F# G
You... my Belfast love
Come take my hand across this land
I’d fly you to the moon
Sail with me the seven seas
Each day would end too soon
And if we are graced with young
This story to them I will tell
How we first kissed in the autumn mist
How deep in love I fell
CHORUS
TAKE ME BACK TO FIDDLERS GREEN
Early on this Easter morn
On this path of clay and stone
To reach the view from Clough Mor
Old friends - we meet there
Old stories - we stop and share
Reliving times when we were young
Recalling images
Like painted eggs and sandwiches
Simple things - so serene
Take me back there
take me back there
Take me back…. to Fiddlers Green
The lush heather’s purple hue
The stunning rugged Cooley view
The whin bouquet upon the breeze
White horses ride the sea
Clouds roll by gracefully
Magic whispers through the trees
Watching children play
Just like our yesterdays
So much longer than it seems
Take me back there
take me back there
Take me back to…. Fiddlers Green
INSTRUMENTAL
Across a blue Rostrevor sky
A lonely soaring seagull cries
As I say goodbye to lilac stars
I turn - retrace my steps
These days I won’t forget
Stone ingrained in my heart
Looking back on that hill
As shadows fall my eyes fill
With visions to cherish in my dreams
Take me back there
Take me back there
Take me back to... Fiddlers Green
Early on this Easter morn
On this path of clay and stone
To reach the view from Clough Mor
Old friends - we meet there
Old stories - we stop and share
Reliving times when we were young
Recalling images
Like painted eggs and sandwiches
Simple things - so serene
Take me back there
take me back there
Take me back…. to Fiddlers Green
The lush heather’s purple hue
The stunning rugged Cooley view
The whin bouquet upon the breeze
White horses ride the sea
Clouds roll by gracefully
Magic whispers through the trees
Watching children play
Just like our yesterdays
So much longer than it seems
Take me back there
take me back there
Take me back to…. Fiddlers Green
INSTRUMENTAL
Across a blue Rostrevor sky
A lonely soaring seagull cries
As I say goodbye to lilac stars
I turn - retrace my steps
These days I won’t forget
Stone ingrained in my heart
Looking back on that hill
As shadows fall my eyes fill
With visions to cherish in my dreams
Take me back there
Take me back there
Take me back to... Fiddlers Green
IF CONNOLLY COULD SEE US NOW
If Thomas Clarke could see us now
In a soup kitchen line by the GPO
Nothing left to give and nowhere to go
What would he say about the proclamation?
The sacrifice lost on this Irish nation?
If Thomas Clarke could see us now
If Padraig Pearse could see us now
Her rent went up another 20 a week
The order came out - she’s out on the street
What would he say about her guarantees
Her equal rights - her civil liberties?
If Padraig Pearse could see us now
If McDonagh could see us now
A mother and three children - sleep in a car
A homeless man dying in Temple Bar
Another found dead in the street by the Dail
Would McDonagh ask why - patriots fell?
If McDonagh could see us now
If Kathleen Lynn could see us now
The suffering in hospitals on trolleys and chairs
Where money does the talking when you’re needing care
How would she ease these crowded rooms
How would she heal - these gaping wounds?
If Kathleen Lynn could see us now
If Kevin Barry could see us now
Would he still have given his young life away
To a land of the under and the overpaid?
Where a clique enslave people in chains
And vultures swoop - for what remains
If Kevin Barry could see us now
If Connolly could see us now
Bailiff’s shadow’s on the victims’ door
Bailouts for banks and the money they whored
They suck the blood from those in need
But no bailout - for those they bleed
If Connolly could see us now
If Thomas Clarke could see us now
In a soup kitchen line by the GPO
Nothing left to give and nowhere to go
What would he say about the proclamation?
The sacrifice lost on this Irish nation?
If Thomas Clarke could see us now
If Padraig Pearse could see us now
Her rent went up another 20 a week
The order came out - she’s out on the street
What would he say about her guarantees
Her equal rights - her civil liberties?
If Padraig Pearse could see us now
If McDonagh could see us now
A mother and three children - sleep in a car
A homeless man dying in Temple Bar
Another found dead in the street by the Dail
Would McDonagh ask why - patriots fell?
If McDonagh could see us now
If Kathleen Lynn could see us now
The suffering in hospitals on trolleys and chairs
Where money does the talking when you’re needing care
How would she ease these crowded rooms
How would she heal - these gaping wounds?
If Kathleen Lynn could see us now
If Kevin Barry could see us now
Would he still have given his young life away
To a land of the under and the overpaid?
Where a clique enslave people in chains
And vultures swoop - for what remains
If Kevin Barry could see us now
If Connolly could see us now
Bailiff’s shadow’s on the victims’ door
Bailouts for banks and the money they whored
They suck the blood from those in need
But no bailout - for those they bleed
If Connolly could see us now
