Middle Island Lament

Lyrics for Middle Island Lament

Alas, my joy has from me passed So long, my heart was keeping That I stand on this land at last And you, in earth, lie sleeping I wish that I me down could lay But my wee babes are crying Alone, I face another day For you, in earth, are lying Each day we tossed upon the sea Our hope, a star before us The only one that we could see In that dark ship that bore us Tis lost, sweet Ireland, lost are you Save only in my dreaming Now I will do what I must do To thwart disaster, scheming I will work from dawn to dusk each day And with my labours giving A future that my children may Succeed here where we're living But all my joy has from me passed So long, my heart was keeping That I stand on this land at last And you, in earth, lie sleeping