Come Back To Erin

A 1866 Irish popular song
suitable for St. Patrick’s Day
words and music by Claribel
(pseud. for Mrs. Charlotte [Alington] Barnard)


The sheet music:


Accompaniment by Benjamin R. Tubb:


Lyrics

  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 Kilarney shall ring with our mirth
    Sure, when we lent ye to beautiful England
    Little we thought of the lone winter days
    Little we thought of the hush of the star shine
    Over the mountain, the bluffs and the brays

Refrain
Then come back to Erin, Mavourneen, Mavourneen
Come back again to the land of thy birth
Come back to Erin, Mavourneen, Mavourneen
And its Kilarney shall ring with our mirth

  1. Over the green sea, Mavourneen, Mavourneen
    Long shone the white sail that bore thee away
    Riding the white waves that fair summer mornin’
    Just like a Mayflow’r afloat on the bay
    O, but my heart sank when clouds came between us
    Like a grey curtain the rain falling down
    Hid from my sad eyes the path o’er the ocean
    Far, far away where my Colleen had flown
  2. O may the angels, O wakin’ and sleepin’
    Watch o’er my bird in the land far away
    And it’s my pray’rs 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

Sung here by Fred Feild: