Farewell to Bellaghy (McElwee's Farewell) - Folk Sessions

Performed and recorded by Darren McCarra and David McGettigan (Na Saoirsí). Download for free -   / folk-sessions-january-2014  .

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Lyrics:

McElwee's Farewell (Farewell to Bellaghy)
by Gerry O'Glacain

Farewell to Bellaghy, likewise Tamlaghtduff
And the green hills of Derry, that I dearly love
My thoughts return to you, from my dark H-Block cell
So friends and brave comrades, I bid you farewell.

For hundreds of years now, we've kept on the fight
And the history books told me, of Ireland's plight
So with gallant Francis, I followed the cause
To conquer the tyrant, and defy England's laws.

Farewell to Bellaghy, likewise Tamlaghtduff
And the green hills of Derry, that I dearly love
My thoughts return to you, from my dark H-Block cell
So friends and brave comrades, I bid you farewell.

Through the hills of south Derry, we marched and we drilled
To our exploits in action, all Irish youth thrilled
Most feared men in Ulster, volunteers on the run
We give England her answer, from the barrels of our guns.

Farewell to Bellaghy, likewise Tamlaghtduff
And the green hills of Derry, that I dearly love
My thoughts return to you, from my dark H-Block cell
So friends and brave comrades, I bid you farewell.

Oh gallant south Derry, you are forever blessed
In the struggle for freedom, you have given your best
There's Hughes and there's Bateson, Sheridan and Lee
And inscribed with their names now, brave Tom McElwee.

Farewell to Bellaghy, likewise Tamlaghtduff
And the green hills of Derry, that I dearly love
My thoughts return to you, from my dark H-Block cell
So friends and brave comrades, I bid you farewell.