When (D) boyhood's fire was in my blood
I (G) read of (A) ancient (D) freemen,
For (D) Greece and Rome who bravely stood,
Three (G) hundred (Em) men and (A) three men;
And (A) then I prayed I yet might see
Our (G) fetters (D) rent in twain,
And (G) Ireland, long a province(A), be.
A (D) Nation (A) once (D) again!
A (D) Nation once (G) again,
A (Em) Nation once (A) again,
And (D) lreland, long a (G) province, (A) be
A (D) Nation (A) once (D) again!
And from that time, through wildest woe,
That hope has shone a far light,
Nor could love's brightest summer glow
Outshine that solemn starlight;
It seemed to watch above my head
In forum, field and fane,
Its angel voice sang round my bed,
A Nation once again!
It whisper'd too, that freedom's ark
And service high and holy,
Would be profaned by feelings dark
And passions vain or lowly;
For, Freedom comes from God's right hand,
And needs a Godly train;
And righteous men must make our land
A Nation once again!
So, as I grew from boy to man,
I bent me to that bidding
My spirit of each selfish plan
And cruel passion ridding;
For, thus I hoped some day to aid,
Oh, can such hope be vain ?
When my dear country shall be made
A Nation once again!
Written by Thomas Osborne Davis a Young Irelander and Irish republican. the song written in Ireland expresses the desire to see a day when Ireland is free again, a noble quest that many Irish people long to see 170 years later.