Now boys if you will listen a story I'll relate / The Fenians' Escape gospel christian songs free mp3 midi download

The Fenians' Escape

Melody -

1. Now boys, if you will listen,
A story I'll relate
I'll tell you of the noble men
Who from their foe escaped
Though bound with Saxon fetters
In the dark Australian jail
They struck a blow for freedom
And for Yankeeland set sail.

2. On the seventeenth of April
Last the Stars and Stripes did fly
On board the bark Catalpa,
Waving proudly to the sky
She showed the green above the red
As she did calmly lay
Prepared to take the Fenian boys
In safety o'er the sea.

3. When Breslin and brave Desmond
Brought the prisoners to the shore
They gave one shout for freedom;
Soon to bless them evermore
And manned by gallant Irish hearts,
Pulled towards the Yankee shore
For well they knew, from its proud folds,
No tyrant could them drag.

4. They had nearly reached in safety
The Catalpa taut and trim
When fast approaching them
They saw a vision dark and dim
It was the gunboat Georgette,
And on her deck there stood
One hundred hired assassins,
To shed each patriot's blood.
5. The gunboat reached the bounding bark
And fired across her bow
Then in loud voice commanded
That the vessel should heave to
But noble Captain Anthony
In thunder tones did cry
"You dare not fire a shot
At that bright flag that floats on high."

6. "My ship is sailing peacefully
Beneath that flag of stars
It's manned by Irish hearts of oak
And manly Yankee tars
And that dear emblem near the fore,
So plain to be seen
Is the banner I'll protect,
Old Ireland's flag of green."

7. The Britisher he sailed away,
From the Stars and Stripes he ran
He knew his chance was slim
To fight the boys of Uncle Sam
So Hogan, Wilson, Harrington,
With Darragh off did go
With Hassett and bold Cranston,
Soon to whip the Saxon foe.

8. Here's luck to Captain Anthony
Who well these men did free
He dared the English man-o'-war
To fight him on the sea
And here's to that dear emblem
Which in triumph shall be seen
The flag for which our heroes fought,
Old Ireland's flag of green.