O, Father dear
I ofttimes heard you talk of Erin's Isle
Her valleys green, her lofty scene
Her mountains rude and wild
You said it was a pleasant place
Wherein a prince might dwell
Why have you then forsaken her
The reason to me tell?

My son
I loved our native land with energy and pride
Until a blight fell on the land
And sheep and cattle died
The rents and taxes were to pay
I could not them redeem
And that's the cruel reason why
I left Old Skibbereen

It's well I do remember on
A bleak November's day
The landlord and his agent came
To drive us all away he set my house on fire
With his demon yellow spleen
And that's another reason why
I left Old Skibbereen

Your mother, too, God rest her soul
Lay on the snowy ground
She fainted in her anguish
Of the desolation round she never rose
But went her way from life
To death's long dream
And found a quiet grave, my boy
In lovely Skibbereen

It's well I do remember
The year of forty-eight
When we arose with Erin's boys
To fight against our fate
I was hunted through the mountains as
A traitor to the Queen
And that's another reason that
I left Old Skibbereen

Oh father dear, the day will come when
Vengeance loud will call
And we'll arise with Erin's boys
And rally one and all
I'll be tbe man to lead the van
Beneath our flag of green
And loud and high we'll raise the cry
"Revenge for Skibbereen!"