MIC RYAN'S LAMENT

Well my name is Mick Ryan, I'm lyin still 
In a lonely spot near where I was killed 
By a red man defending his native land 
In the place they call Little Big Horn 

I swear I did not see the irony 
When I rode with the Seventh Cavalry 
I thought we fought for the land of the free 
When we rode from Fort Lincoln that morning 

And the band they played the Garryowen 
Brass was shining, flags a flowin 
I swear if I had only known 
I'd have wished that I'd died back at Vicksburg 

For my brother and me, we barely escaped 
From the hell that was Ireland in forty eight 
Two angry young lads who had learned how to hate 
But we loved the idea of Amerikay 

We cursed our cousins who fought and bled 
In their bloody coats of bloody red 
The sun never sets on the bloody dead 
Of those who have chosen an empire 

We'd find a better life somehow 
In the land where no man has to bow 
It seemed right then and it seems right now 
That Paddy he died for the union 

Ah, but Michael he somehow got turned around 
He stole the dream he thought he'd found 
Now I never will see that holy ground 
For I turned into something I hated 

I'm haunted by the Garryowen 
Drums a beating, bugles blowin 
I swear if I had only known 
I'd lie with my brother in Vicksburg 

And the band they played that Garryowen 
Brass was shinin, flags a flowin' 
I swear if I had only known, I'd lie with 
my brother at Vicksburg 

SCOTLAND THE BRAVE

Hark when the night is falling
Hear! hear the pipes are calling
Loudly and proudly calling
Down thro' the glen
There where the hills are sleeping
Now feel the blood a-leaping
High as the spirits
Of the old Highland men 

Chorus:
Towering in gallant fame
Scotland my mountain hame
High may your proud standards
Gloriously wave
Land of my high endeavour
Land of the shining river
Land of my heart for ever
Scotland the brave

High in the misty Highlands
Out by the purple islands
Brave are the hearts that beat
Beneath Scottish skies
Wild are the winds to meet you
Staunch are the friends that greet you
Kind as the love that shines
From fair maiden's eyes

Chorus: 

Far off in sunlit places
Sad are the Scottish faces
Yearning to feel the kiss
Of sweet Scottish rain
Where tropic skies are beaming
Love sets the heart a-dreaming
Longing and dreaming
For the homeland again
Chorus: 
 
WILL YE NO COME BACK AGAIN

WILL YE NO COME BACK AGAIN

Chorus
Will ye no' come back again?
Will ye no'come back again?
Better loved ye canna be
Will ye no'come back again?

Bonnie Chairlie's noo awa',
Safely ower the friendly main
Mony a he'rt will break in twa
Shouldhe ne 'er come back again

Ye trusted in your Hieland men
They trusted you dear Chairlie
They kent your hidin' in the glen
Death or exile bravin'

We watched thee in the gloamin' hour
We watched thee in the mornin' grey
Tho' thirty thousand pounds they gie
O there is nane that wad betray

Sweet the laverock's note and lang
Liltin' wildly up the glen
But aye tae me he sings ae sang
Will ye no' come back again?

Bonnie Charlie's now awa'
Safely owre the friendly main
Mony a heart will break i' twa
Should he no' come back again
 
Many a traitor 'mange the isles
Brak the band o' nature's laws
Mony a traitor wi' his wiles
Sought to wear his life awa'

Chorus: 

Many a gallant sodger gaught
Mony a gallant chief did fall
Death itself were dearly bought
A' for Scotland's king and law
Chorus: 

Whene'er I hear the blackbird sing
Unto the evening sinking down
Or merl that makes the wood to ring
To me they hae nae other sound
Chorus: 

Sweet the lav'rock's note and lang
Lilting wildly up the glen
And aye the o'erworld o' he sang
"Will he no' come back again?"
Chorus: 
 
GARRY OWEN

Let Bacchus' sons be not dismayed
But join with me, each jovial blade
Come drink and sing and lend your aid
To help me with the chorus

[Chorus]
Instead of spa we'll drink brown ale
And pay the reckoning on the nail
No man for debt shall go to jail
From Garryowen in glory

We'll beat the bailiffs out of fun
We'll make the mayor and sheriffs run
We are the boys no man dares dun
If he regards a whole skin
[Chorus]

Our hearts so stout have got no fame
For soon 'tis known from whence we came
Where'er we go they fear the name
Of Garryowen in glory
[Chorus]

ANACREON IN HEAVEN
I
To Anacreon in Heaven where he fat in full glee
A few fons of Harmony fent a petition
That He their Infpirer and Patron would be
When this anfwer arrived from the Jolly Old Grecian
Voice, Fiddle, and Flute no longer be mute
I'll lend you my Name and inspire you to boot
I'll insruct you like me to entwine
The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine

II
The news through OLYMPUS immediately flew
When OLD THUNDER pretended to give himfelf Airs
If these mortals are suffer'd their Scheme to pursue
The Devil a Goddess will stay above the Stairs
Hark, already they cry In tranfports of Joy
Away to the Sons of ANACREON we'll fly
And there with good Fellows we'll learn to entwine
The Myrtle of VENUS with BUCCUS'S Vine

III
The YELLOW-HAIRED GOD and his nine fufty Maids
From Helicon's Banks will incontinent flee
IDALIA will boaft but of tenantlefs Shades
And the bi-forked Hill a mere Desart will be
My Thunder, no fear on't Shall soon do its Errand
I'll swing the Ringleaders
I'll trim the young Dogs for daring to twine
The Myrtle of VENUS with BACCUS'S Vine

IV
APOLLO rose up and said Never quarrel
Good King of the Gods with my Vot'ries below
Your Thunder is useless, then, showing his Laurel
Cry'd, "Sic evitabile fulmen, you know!
Then over each Head my Laurels I'll spread
So my Sons from your Crackers no Mischief shall dread
Whilst snug in their Club-Room they jovially twine
The Myrtle of VENUS with BACCUS'S Vine

V
Next MOMUS got up with his risible Phiz
And swore with APOLLO he'd cheerfully join
The full Tide of Harmony still shall be his
But the Song and the Catch & the Laugh shall be mine
Then, JOVE, be not jealous of these honest Fellows.
Cry'd JOVE, We relent, fince the Truth you now tell us
And swear by OLD STYX, that they long shall entwine
The Myrtle of VENUS with BACCUS'S Vine

VI
Ye sons of ANACREON then join Hand in Hand
Preserve Unanimity, Friendship, and Love
'Tis yours to support what's so happily plann'd
You've the Sanction of Gods and the FIAT of Jove
While thus we agree our Toast let it be
May our club flourish happy, united and free
And long may the Sons of ANACREON intwine
The Myrtle of VENUS with BACCUS'S Vine

BABYLON HAS FALLEN
 
BABYLON has fallen! Aye but Babylon endures  
Wherever human folly shines or human folly lures  
Where lovers lingering walk beside, and happy children play,  
Is Babylon! Babylon! for ever and for ay.  
The plan is rudely fashioned, the dream is unfulfilled,         5 
Yet all is in the archetype if but a builder willed;  
And Babylon is calling us, the microcosm of men,  
To range her walls in harmony and lift her spires again;  
The sternest walls, the proudest spires, that ever sun shone on,  
Halting a space his burning race to gaze on Babylon.         10 
  
Babylon has fallen! Aye; but Babylon shall stand:  
The mantle of her majesty is over sea and land.  
Hers is the name of challenge flung, a watchword in the fight  
To grapple grim eternities and gain the old delight;  
And in the word the dream is hid, and in the dream the deed,         15 
And in the deed the mastery for those who dare to lead.  
Surely her day shall come again, surely her breed be born  
To urge the hope of humankind and scale the peaks of morn—  
To fight as they who fought till death their bloody field upon,  
And kept the gate against the Fate frowning on Babylon.         20 
  
Babylon has fallen! Nay; for Babylon falls never;  
Her seat is in the aspiring brain, in nerves that leap and quiver:  
Upon her towers of ancient dream Prometheus is throned,  
And still his ravished spark is flung wherever manhood’s owned.  
All vices, crimes, and mutinies were Babylon’s: and then         25 
All honours, prides, and ecstasies—for in her streets were Men;  
And Man by Man must grow apace, and Man by Man must thrive,  
And Man from Man must snatch the torch that lights the race alive:  
Yea, here and now her citizens, as in the years far gone,  
Stone by stone and joy with moan, upbuild Babylon.          

TEDDY BEWARS PICNIC 1908
 
If you go down to the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise
If you go down to the woods today
You'd better go in disguise

For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the Teddy Bears have their picnic

Every Teddy Bear who's been good
Is sure of a treat today
There's lots of marvelous things to eat
And wonderful games to play

Beneath the trees where nobody sees
They'll hide and seek as long as they please
'Cause that's the way the Teddy Bears have their picnic

If you go down to the woods today
You'd better not go alone
It's lovely down in the woods today
But safer to stay at home

For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain because
Today's the day the Teddy Bears have their picnic

Picnic time for Teddy Bears
The little Teddy Bears are having a lovely time today
Watch them, catch them unawares
And see them picnic on their holiday

See them gaily gad about
They love to play and shout
They never have any care

At six o'clock their Mummies and Daddies
Will take them home to bed
Because they're tired little Teddy Bears