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An
Emigrant's Daughter
Oh please ne'er forget me though waves now lie
o'er me
I was once young and pretty and my spirit ran
free
But destiny tore me from country and loved ones
And from the new land I was never to see.
A poor emigrant's daughter too frightened to
know
I was leaving forever the land of my soul
Amid struggle and fear my parents did pray
To place courage to leave o'er the longing to
stay.
They spoke of a new land far away 'cross the sea
And of peace and good fortune for my brothers
and me
So we parted from townland with much weeping and
pain
'Kissed the loved ones and the friends we would
ne'er see again.
The vessel was crowded with disquieted folk
The escape from past hardship sustaining their
hope
But as the last glimpse of Ireland faded into
the mist
Each one fought back tears and felt strangely
alone.
The seas roared in anger, making desperate our
plight
And a fever came o'er me that worsened next
night
Then delirium possessed me and clouded my mind
And I, for a moment, saw that land left behind.
I could hear in the distance my dear mother's
wailing
And the prayers of three brothers that I'd see
no more
And I felt father's tears as he begged for
forgiveness
For seeking a new life on the still distant
shore.
Oh please ne'er forget me though waves now lie
o'er me
I was once young and pretty and my spirit ran
free
But destiny tore me from country and loved ones
And from the new land I was never to see.
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