The West's Awake

When all beside a vigil keep The West's asleep, the West's asleep Alas! and well may Erin weep When Connacht lies in slumber deep There lake and plain smile fair and free 'Mid rocks their guardian chivalry Sing, Oh! let man learn liberty From crashing wind and lashing sea

That chainless wave and lovely land Freedom and nationhood demand Be sure the great God never planned For slumb'ring slaves a home so grand And long a brave and haughty race Honoured and sentinelled the place Sing, Oh! not even their sons' disgrace Can quite destroy their glory's trace

For often, in O'Connor's van To triumph dashed each Connacht clan And fleet as deer the Normans ran Thro' Corrsliabh Pass and Ardrahan And later times saw deeds as brave And glory guards Clanricarde's grave Sing, Oh! they died their land to save At Aughrim's slopes and Shannon's wave

And if, when all a vigil keep The West's asleep! the West's asleep Alas! and well may Erin weep That Connacht lies in slumber deep But, hark! a voice like thunder spake The West's awake! the West's awake Sing, Oh! hurrah! let England quake We'll watch till death for Erin's sake