Wild Geese
By: Sailordan
Duration
4:30
Genres
Description
Following the devastating famine in the mid 1840s In Ireland during which almost 1 million people died of starvation over a million people, mostly men, left Ireland searching for new lives in new countries around the world. The idea was that once the men were settled they would send for their loved ones back home in Ireland, unfortunately this did not always happen. This song is about that
Lyrics
(D) Like (G) the wild geese of (A7) Ireland the (D) men leave our (Bm) shores (G) To fight in foreign (Em) countries in (A7) their bloody (D) wars (D) Sons, (A7) fathers (G) brothers and lovers (A7) too (G) They all (Em) leave but (A7) never return to (D) you They build roads, canals and railways too There is no work in Ireland so they leave you To build a better future is what they all say But in another country you are far away (G) Like wild geese, (A7) wild geese (D) the men have flown (Bm) away (G) To other (Em) countries (A7) where they will stay (D) Ireland’s been (A7) cursed like this (G) since the famine (A7) began (G) To lose all her (Em) men folk, (A7) young boys and grown (D) men Some went to America there they remain Some went to Australia covered in chains They went to foreign countries across the oceans wide Some forgot their loved ones and even took new brides Some went to escape from the British tyranny Others sought freedom in lands across the sea For whatever reason they went away Once in their new countries there they did stay CHORUS If it wasn’t ‘cos of famine then it was for wars That took all the men from Ireland’s green shores Now only the old men still remain And life in dear old Ireland will never be the same Many Irish colleens sit pining on the beach Dreaming of their men folk who are beyond their reach They’ve gone to foreign countries and there they remain Life in dear old Ireland will never be the same CHORUS
