The West's Awake - The Wolfe Tones


When all beside a vigil keep,
The west's asleep, the west's asleep,
Alas and well may Erin weep,
When Connaught lies in slumber deep,
There lakes and plains smile fair and free,
Mid rocks their guardian chivalry,
Sing, "Oh, let man learn liberty,
From crashing wind and lashing sea."

That chainless wave and lovely land,
Freedom and nationhood demand,
Be sure the great God never planned,
For slumbering slaves a home so grand,
And long a brave and haughty race,
Honoured and sentinelled the place,
Sing, "Oh, not even their sons' disgrace,
Can quite destroy their glory's trace."

For often in O'Connor's van,
To triumph dashed each Connaught clan,
And fleet as dear the Normans ran,
Through Corslieve Pass and Ardrahan,
And later times saw deeds as brave,
And glory guard Clanricarde's grave,
Sing, "Oh, they died their land to save,
At Aughrim's slopes and Shannon's waves."

And if, when all a vigil keep,
The west's asleep, the west's asleep,
Alas and well may Erin weep,
That Connaught lies in slumber deep,
But, hark a voice like thunder spake,
The west's awake, the west's awake,
Sing, "Oh, hurrah! Let England quake!
We'll watch till dead for Erin's sake.".