Rovers Irish - Bodenstown Churchyard lyrics

rate me

In Bodenstown churchyard there is a green grave, <br />

And wildly around it the winter winds rave; <br />

Small shelter I ween are the ruined walls there <br />

When the storm sweeps down on the plains of Kildare. <br />

Once I lay on that sod it lies over Wolfe Tone<br />

And thought how he perished in prison alone, <br />

His friends unavenged and his country unfreed <br />

"Oh, bitter," I said, "is the patriots meed. <br />

<br />

"For in him the heart of a woman combined <br />

With heroic spirit and a governing mind <br />

A martyr for Ireland, his grave has no stone <br />

His name sheldom named, and his virtues unknown." <br />

I was woke from my dream by the voices and tread <br />

Of a band who came into the home of the dead; <br />

They carried no corpse, and they carried no stone, <br />

And they stopped when they came to the grave of Wolfe Tone. <br />

<br />

There were students and peasants, the wise and the brave, <br />

And an old man who knew him from cradle to grave, <br />

And children who thought me hard-hearted, for they <br />

On that sanctified sod were forbidden to play. <br />

But the old man, who saw I was mourning there, said: <br />

"We come, sir, to weep where young Wolfe Tone is laid, <br />

And we're going to raise him a monument, too <br />

A plain one, yet fit for the loyal and true."<br />

<br />

My heart overflowed, and I clasped his old hand, <br />

And I blessed him, and blessed every one of his band: <br />

"Sweet, sweet tis to find that such faith can remain <br />

In the cause and the man so long vanquished and slain." <br />

In Bodenstown churchyard there is a green grave, <br />

And freely around it let winter winds rave <br />

Far better they suit him the ruin and gloom <br />

Till Ireland, a nation, can build him a tomb.