[ti:The Flower of Finae]
[ar:Karan Casey & John Doyle]
[al:Exiles Return]
[00:00.14]
[00:15.16]Bright red is the sun o'er the waves of Lough Sheelin
[00:24.86]A cool gentle breeze o'er the mountains is stealing
[00:34.35]But fair round the islets the small ripples play
[00:43.81]But fairer than all is the flower of Finae
[00:53.70]Her hair is like night and her eyes like grey morning
[01:03.40]She trips o'er the heather as if its touch scorning
[01:12.25]But her heart and her lips are as mild as May Day
[01:21.38]Young Eily McMahon is the flower of Finae
[01:31.55]Who down the hillside like wild deer runs fleeter?
[01:40.13]And who on the lakeside is hastening to greet her?
[01:49.36]Who but Fergus O'Farrell, that fiery young gay
[01:58.32]The darling and pride of the flower of Finae
[02:12.67]One kiss and one clasp and one wild look of gladness
[02:22.18]But why does it change all of a sudden to sadness?
[02:31.74]He has told his sad fortune; he can no longer stay
[02:39.97]He must leave his poor Eily all alone in Finae
[02:48.80]For Fergus O'Farrell was true to his sire-land
[02:57.54]But the strong hand of tyranny were drove in from Ireland
[03:06.32]He joins the brigade in the wars far away
[03:14.98]But he vows he'll return to the flower of Finae
[03:36.33]Fought at Cremona—she hears of his story
[03:43.84]He fought at Casano—she's proud of his glory
[03:52.82]Yet sadly she sings "Siubhail a Rúin" all the day
[04:01.44]O, come home my darling, come home to Finae
[04:10.49]Long years have passed till she's nigh broken-hearted
[04:18.70]Her reel and her rock and her flax she has parted
[04:27.13]She sails with the wild geese to Flanders away
[04:36.34]And leaves her poor parents alone in Finae
[04:44.97]Lord Clare on the field of Ramillies is charging
[04:53.29]Before him the Sassanach squadrons enlarging
[05:01.75]Behind him the Cravats, their sections display
[05:10.67]Beside him rides Fergus and he shouts for Finae
[05:19.75]On the slopes of La Judoigne the Frenchmen are flying
[05:27.85]Lord Clare and his squadrons the foe still defying
[05:36.84]Outnumbered and wounded retreat in array
[05:45.35]And bleeding rides Fergus and he thinks of Finae
[06:04.29]In the cloisters of Ypres a banner is swaying
[06:13.40]And by it a pale weeping maiden is praying
[06:22.40]That flag's the sole trophy of Ramillies' fray
[06:31.28]This nun is poor Eily, the flower of Finae