Patrick Street - A Forgotten Hero lyrics

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The Landlord's agents standing with their crowbars in their hands,

Four little children watch the fire and do not understand

Just another family evicted from their home

And the memory never faded for one brave man from Mayo.

He grew up in an English town and ideas filled his head

He read about John Mitchell and what Fintan Lalor said

How the landed gentry with their property unearned

Took the food from millions gave them famine in return

Michael Davidd was nineteen when he joined the IRB

But the police they arrested him in 1870

And the lies of the informer sent Michael Davitt down

For fifteen years in Dartmoor as a traitor to the crown

The Landlord and his agent wrote Davitt from his cell

For selfishness and cruelty have no parallel

And the one thing they're entitled to these idle thoroughbreds

Is a one way ticket out of here third class to Holyhead

After seven years and seven months this convict was released

His spirit was unbroken his commitment but increased

And with one clear call he then unveiled his plan

We'll form a mighty Land League and we'll nationalise the land

O Forgotten hero in poverty you came

But you never looked for riches and you never looked for fame

The interests of the common man it was your life's aim

Forgotten Hero never vanquishes in the struggle

The rain lashed down all summer and filled the people's heart with fear

And the harvest was the worst since the dreadful Famine years

But the Land League's Monster Meeting showed the farmers they were strong

And if we all stick together, boys, it won't take very long

Out the ruins of the cottage where he first he drew his breath

Davitt said I hope that I may have pleasure yet

Of trampling on the ruins of this greedy useless band

And driving landlordism from the shores of Ireland

With Parnell as it's leader the land war held his course

Hold the rent and hold the harvest they can't evict us all

And Davitt crossed the ocean saying give what you can spare

And the Irish in Amerikay they paid up their full share

But not for the first time and neither for the last

The Dublin Castle Bishops nailed their colours to the mast

And the Altars rang with warnings, respect the law we say

For these Fenians and these Socialists are leading you astray

With the laws of Private Property and the army at his back

Buckshot Forster then arrested all the leaders of the pack

In the Hallowed House of Commons the Gents did cheer and howl

When they heard that Michael Davitt was safely back in jail

And the treaty of Kilmainham Parnell threw it all away

It was the turning point in his career and he turned the wrong way

And the revolution missed it's chance with victory in it's sight

And fell down like a house of cards collapsing overnight

Davitt saw the Land war as the first step down the track

And he hoped to see the end of the Queen and the end of Union Jack

And I hope some tremor reached him where he lies in bleak Mayo

When they raised the Harp without the Crown above the GPO

O Forgotten Hero in peace may you rest

Your heart was always with the poor and the oppressed

A prison cell could never quell the courage you possessed

Forgotten Hero never vanquishes in the struggle