Come Back to Erin

public domain

Info

“Erin” is another name for “Ireland.”
“Mavourneen” means “my darling.” (source)

Lyrics

(Claribel: Charlotte Alington Barnnard, 1883)

1. Come back to Erin, Mavourneen, Mavourneen,
Come back, Aroon, to the land of my birth;
Come with the shamrocks and spring-time, Mavourneen,
And its Killarney shall ring with our mirth.
Sure, when we lent you to beautiful England,
Little we thought of the lone winter days.
Little we thought of the hush of the star shine
Over the mountains, the bluffs And the brays.

Refrain
Come back to Erin, Mavourneen, Mavourneen,
Come back again to the land of my birth;
Come back to Erin, Mavourneen, Mavourneen,
And its Killarney shall ring with our mirth.

2. Over the green sea, Mavourneen, Mavourneen,
Long shone the white sail that bore thee away,
Riding the white waves that fair summer morn in’,
Just like a Mayflower afloat on the bay.
Oh! but my heart sauk when clouds came between us.
Like a gray curtain the rain falling down,
Hid from my sad eyes the path o’er the ocean.
Far, far away where my Colleen had flown. Refrain

3. Oh! may the angels, O wakin’ and sleepin’,
Watch o’er my bird in the land far away!
And it’s my prayer will consign to their keepin’
Care o’ my jewel by night and by day,
When by the fireside I watch the bright embers,
Then all my heart flies to England And thee,
Cravin’ to know if my darlin’ remembers.
Or if her thoughts may be crossin’ to me. Refrain