The West’s Awake Songtext
von Wolfe Tones

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
Her lakes and plains smile fair and free
Mid rocks their guardian chivalry
Sing oh, let man learn liberty
From crashing wind and lashing sea


That chain-less wave and lovely land
Freedom and nationhood demand
Be sure the great God never planned
For slumbering slaves a home so grand
And long a great and haughty race
Honored and sentineled the place
Sing oh, not even their son′s disgrace
Could yet destroy our glory's trace

For often in O'Connor′s van
To triumph dashed each Connacht plan
And fleet as deer the Normans ran
Through Corrsliabh pass Ardrahan
And later times saw deeds as brave
And glory guards Clanricard′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
When 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