Well it’s by the hush me boys, and that’s to mind your noise
And listen to poor Paddy’s sad narration
I was by hunger stressed, and in poverty distressed
So I took a thought I’d leave the Irish nation.

Well I sold me horse and cow, my little pigs and sow
My father’s farm of land I then departed
And me sweetheart Bid Magee I’m afraid I’ll never see
For I left her there that morning broken hearted.

Chorus:
Here ye boys, now take my advice
To America I’ll have youse not be coming
There is nothing here but war, where the thundering cannons roar
And I wish I was at home in dear old Ireland.

Well meself and a hundred more to America sailed o’er
Our fortunes to be making we were thinking
When we got to Yankee land they put guns into our hand
Saying “Paddy, you must go and fight for Lincoln.”

Chorus

General Meagher to us he said, “If you get shot or lose your head
Every mother’s son of youse will get a pension.”
Well in the war I lost me leg, all I’ve now’s a wooden peg
By my soul it is the truth to you I mention.

Chorus

Well I think meself in luck if I get fed on Indian buck
And old Ireland is the country I delight in
To the devil I would say, “God curse Amerikay”
For in truth I’ve had enough of their hard fightin’.