Song Lyrics

By Thomas Moore (1770-1852)
Additional Verse By Dennis Berlin (2002)
To the tune of Londonderry Air (same as “Danny Boy”)

My gentle harp, once more I waken
The sweetness of thy slumbering strain
In tears our last farewell was taken
And nos in tears we meet again.
Yet even then, while peace was singing,
Her halcyon song o’er land and sea,
Though joy and hope to others bringing,
She only brought new tears to thee.

Then who can ask for notes of pleasure,
My drooping harp, from chords like thine?
Alas, the lark’s gay morning measure
As ill would suit the swan’s decline.
Or how shall I, who love, who bless thee,
Invoke thy breath for freedom’s strains,
When e’en the wreaths in which I dress thee,
Are sadly mixed, half flours, half chains.

(Following verse added by Dennis Berlin
—based on theme and language style of the previous verses,
and of the poem “The Minstrel Boy,” also by Thomas Moore.
VERSE COPYRIGHT 2002 DENNIS BERLIN)

A day shall come when canons cease their echo
Nor sons, lov’d daughters, friends form ranks of death.
That spring cold tears, which watered winter’s meadow
Shall cause the minstrel’s harp to wake with flour’s breath.
And in that day I’ll sing of love unending
A strain unsullied by this bitter pain.
When all of earth to heaven’s pleasure bending
My gentle harp I’ll dress thee: flours without chains.

In joy and hope sing notes of freedom [or pleasure] without stain.