The Arranmore Boat Song

Melody - "Arran", traditional air

tr. by Alfred P. Graves

With swelling sail, away, away!
Our bark goes bounding o'er the bay!
Farewell, farewell, old Arranmore!
She courtseys, courtseys to the shore.
Chorus:
Farewell, fond wives and children dear!
From ev'ry ill heav'n keep you clear;
Till through the surge we stagger back,
As full of fish as we can pack

2. For when we've sowed and gardened here,
Far off to other fields we'll steer;
Our farm upon the distant deep
Where all at once you till and reap.
Chorus:

3. There, there the reeling ridge we plough,
Our coulter keen the cutter's prow;
While fresh and fresh from out the trawl
The fish by hundreds in we haul.
Chorus:

4. Thou glorious sun, gleam on above
O'er Ara, Ara of our love.
Ye ocean airs, preserve her peace,
Ye night dews, yield her rich increase.
Chorus:

5. Until, one glitt'ring realm of grain,
She waves her wand'rers home again;
And we come heaping from our hold
A silver crop, beside the gold.
Chorus:

From Irish Ballds and Songs of the Sea

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