The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE RISING OF THE MOON

AH THEN TELL ME SEAN O'FARRELL, TELL ME
WHY YOU HURRY SO. HUSH MY BOY, NOW HUSH AND LISTEN, AND HIS EYES
WERE ALL AGLOW. I BEAR ORDERS FROM THE CAPTAIN, GET YE READY QUICK
AND SOON, FOR THE PIKES MUST BE TOGETHER AT THE RISING OF THE MOON.
AH THEN TELL ME SEAN O'FARRELL, WHERE THE GATHERIN' IS TO BE. IN
THE OLD SPOT BY THE RIVER, RIGHT WELL KNOWN TO YOU AND ME. ONE
WORD MORE, A SIGNAL TOKEN, WHISTLE OF THE MARCHING TUNE, WITH YOUR
PIKE UPON YOUR SHOULDER, AT THE RISING OF THE MOON. THERE BESIDE
THE SINGING RIVER, THAT DARK MASS OF MEN WERE SEEN. FAR ABOVE THEIR
SHINING WEAPONS HUNG THEIR OWN IMMORTAL WREATH. DEATH TO EVERY FOE
AND TRAITOR, FORWARD STRIKE THE MARCHING TUNE, AND HURRAH MY BOYS
FOR FREEDOM, 'TIS THE RISING OF THE MOON. HOW WELL THEY FOUGHT FOR
POOR OLD IRELAND, AND FULL BITTER WAS THEIR FATE. OH WHAT GLORIOUS
PRIDE AND SORROW FILLS THE NAME OF '98. YET THANK GOD WHILE HEARTS
ARE BEATING, EACH MAN BEARS A BURNING WOUND. WE WILL FOLLOW IN THEIR
FOOTSTEPS AT THE RISING OF THE MOON.

Submitter comment: THIS SONG WAS TAUGHT TO ME BY MY BROTHER WHO LEARNED IT FROM AN
UNKNOWN SOURCE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS

Date learned: CA03001974