Percy French - The Mountains Of Mourne lyrics

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(Words by Percy French, ca 1900. Melody trad.)<br />

<br />

Oh Mary, this London's a wonderful sight,<br />

With people here working by day and by night.<br />

They don't sow potatoes nor barley nor wheat<br />

But there's gangs of them diggin' for gold in the street.<br />

At least, when I asked them that's what I was told<br />

So I just took a hand at this diggin' for gold;<br />

But for all that I've found there, I might as well be<br />

Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.<br />

I believe that when writin' a wish you expressed<br />

As to how the fine lAdies of London are dressed.<br />

Well if you believe me, when asked to a ball<br />

They don't wear no tops to their dresses at all.<br />

Oh, I've seen them myself and you could not, in thrath<br />

(truth)<br />

Say if they were bound for a ball, or a bath,<br />

Don't be startin' them fashions now, Mary Machree,<br />

Where the etc.<br />

I've seen England's king from the top of a bus<br />

And I've never known him, but he means to know us.<br />

<br />

And tho' by the Saxon we once were oppressed,<br />

Still I cheered, God forgive me, I cheered with the rest.<br />

And now that he's visited Erin's green shore<br />

We'll be much better friends than we've been heretofore<br />

When we've got all we want, we're as quiet as can be<br />

Where the etc.<br />

You remember young Peter O'Loughlin of course<br />

Well now he is here at the head of the Force.<br />

I met him today, I was crossing the Strand<br />

And he stopped the whole street with a wave of his hand.<br />

And there we stood talking of days that are gone<br />

While the whole population of London looked on;<br />

But for all these great powers, he's wishful, like me<br />

To be back where the dark Mourne sweeps down to the sea.<br />

There's beautiful girls here --- Oh, never you mind ---<br />

With beautiful shapes nature never designed.<br />

And lovely complexions all roses and cream,<br />

But O'Loughlin remarked with regard to the same<br />

That if at those roses you venture to sip<br />

The colors might all come away on your lip<br />

So I'll wait for the wild rose that's waitin' for me