| Lyrics: | THE FENIANS' ESCAPE
Now boys, if you will listen, a story I'll relate
I'll tell you
of the noble men who from their foe escaped.
Though bound with Saxon fetters in the dark
Australian jail,
They struck a blow for freedom and for Yankeeland set sail.
On the
seventeenth of April last the Stars and Stripes did fly
On board the bark Catalpa, waving
proudly to the sky;
She showed the green above the red as she did calmly lay
Prepared to
take the Fenian boys in safety o'er the sea.
When Breslin and brave Desmond brought the
prisoners to the shore,
They gave one shout for freedom; soon to bless them evermore.
And
manned by gallant Irish hearts, pulled towards the Yankee shore,
For well they knew, from its
proud folds, no tyrant could them drag.
They had nearly reached in safety the Catalpa
taut and trim,
When fast approaching them they saw a vision dark and dim.
It was the
gunboat Georgette, and on her deck there stood,
One hundred hired assassins, to shed each
patriot's blood.
The gunboat reached the bounding bark and fired across her
bow,
Then in loud voice commanded that the vessel should heave to.
But noble Captain
Anthony in thunder tones did cry,
"You dare not fire a shot at that bright flag that floats on
high."
"My ship is sailing peacefully beneath that flag of stars,
It's manned by
Irish hearts of oak and manly Yankee tars;
And that dear emblem near the fore, so plain to be
seen,
Is is the banner I'll protect, old Ireland's flag of green."
The Britisher he
sailed away, from the Stars and Stripes he ran,
He knew his chance was slim to fight the boys
of Uncle Sam;
So Hogan, Wilson, Harrington, with Darragh off did go;
With Hassett and bold
Cranston, soon to whip the Saxon foe.
Here's luck to Captain Anthony who well these men
did free,
He dared the English man-o'-war to fight him on the sea;
And here's to that dear
emblem which in triumph shall be seen
The flag for which our heroes fought, old Ireland's flag
of green.
From Songs of the Irish in America, Meek
@Irish @rebel @sailor
@escape
filename[ FENESCAPE
play.exe FENESCAPE
RG
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