I am a lonely exile that has left my own dear nation
To seek a situation in a land far o’er the foam.
I sailed across the ocean wide through hardships and through dangers
And for years I’ve been a stranger from my own dear Irish home
Where once I lived contentedly, the friends I loved surrounded me
Care no grief ne’er troubled me nor made my heart feel sore
But now my days are over and I’m parted from that company
And Kilnamartyra’s lovely face my eyes shall see no more.

It is there my heart felt happy until I took the notion
To sail across the ocean from the isle that gave me birth.
Sorrows dark and dismal clouds ne’er cast their shadows o’er me,
And I knew of pleasure only while I stood on Irish earth.

Love of money tempted me far from my cabin home to flee
And go across the raging sea in search of golden store.
I sailed away from Erin, bound for the land of liberty
And bade my friends in Ireland adieu for evermore.

Full twelve long weary winters are gone and have departed
Since I sailed across the waters from where my fathers lie;
And still this longing heart of mine is ever fondly calling
For the home that I was born in and where I long to die.
The friends that once delighted me in fancy’s dream I still can see,
Around the cabin fire with me when our daily toil was o’er.
The songs and merry voices come rushing to my memory:
In my heart I’m sadly thinking that I ne’er shall see them more.

I’ve travelled through Columbia’s shores, all toils and dangers corning,
To the farthest eastern border and westward to the deep:
The broad extensive cotton fields and plains of Alabama
The mines of lone Montana and the Rockies wild and steep.
I hunted for prosperity, but still it has eluded me
And black misfortune followed me, no matter where I roamed.
And often in my anguish I cursed the fate that parted me
From the comrades of my boyhood and my own dear Irish home.

Sweet boyish recollections that ever fondly bind me
To the friends I left behind me far o’er the raging sea;
And then dear Kilnamartyra, where one time I resided
And now I am divided by the ocean wide from thee.
Age is overtaking me and youth has long forsaken me
The friends that once delighted me perhaps I’ll ne’er see more
But until my days are over and death has come and taken me
I fondly will remember thee, dear land that I adore.