 |
 |
Bold Robert Emmet
Robert Emmet led a highly unsuccesful rebellion against the English in 1803, just two years after the Act of Union has combined Ireland, Scotland and England in one United Kingdom. Emmet seems to have been a pretty inefficient kind of fellow, but he made a wonderful speech at the docks before he was hung and people like to see him as a romantic figure. It wasn't until 1921 that Ireland finally managed to leave the United Kingdom, but Robert Emmet's name is still better remembered than many of the more successful rebels.
Although Robert Emmet was a friend of the poet and song writer Thomas Moore there is no evidence that this song is written by Moore.
Bold Robert Emmet
| Title: Bold Robert Emmet |
| Author unknown |
| Recorded by: Inchicore, Derek Warfield, Patsy Watchhorn, The Wolfe Tones and The Wolfhound |
| Category: Early Rebellions and Wars and Traditional Song |
Copyright Statement |
The struggle is over, the boys are defeated,
Old Ireland's surrounded with sadness and gloom,
We were defeated and shamefuIIy treated,
And I, Robert Emmet, awaiting my doom.
Hung, drawn and quartered, sure that was my sentence,
But soon I will show them no coward am I.
My crime is the love of the land I was born in,
A hero I lived and a hero I'll die.
Bold Robert Emmet, the darling of Ireland,
Bold Robert Emmet will die with a smile,
Farewell companions both loyal and daring,
I'll lay down my life for the Emerald Isle.
The barque lay at anchor awaiting to bring me
Over the billows to the land of the free;
But I must see my sweetheart for I know she will cheer me,
And with her I will sail far over the sea.
But I was arrested and cast into prison,
Tried as a traitor, a rebel, a spy;
But no man can call me a knave or a coward,
A hero I lived and a hero I'll die.
Bold Robert Emmet, the darling of Ireland,
Bold Robert Emmet will die with a smile,
Farewell companions both loyal and daring,
I'll lay down my life for the Emerald Isle.
Hark! I the bell's tolling, I well know its meaning,
My poor heart tells me it is my death knell;
In come the clergy, the warder is leading,
I have no friends here to bid me farewell.
Goodbye, old Ireland, my parents and sweetheart,
Companions in arms to forget you must try;
I am proud of the honour, it was only my duty-
A hero I lived and a hero I'll die.
Bold Robert Emmet, the darling of Ireland,
Bold Robert Emmet will die with a smile,
Farewell companions both loyal and daring,
I'll lay down my life for the Emerald Isle.