Cappanagrown

The song Cappanagrown was composed by John O’ Sullivan of Cappanagrown, sometime between 1890 and 1900. In this composition the composer provides us with  a description of his own  emigration. An earlier composition by John O’Sullivan that is included in this volume, is dealing with the emigration of two of his neighbours. Many thanks are due to Padraig O’Connell who has collected and preserved the songs of his locality and made them available to the Binneas project.

You kind hearted comrades who live in this isle of saints,

That emerald spot of beauty more untouched by foreign taints.

I crave your attention to those lines I now pen down,

While sending you a long farewell so far from Cappanagrown.

It has been exactly four long months since I left my native home,

And come over to America across the Atlantic foam,

Ever since my departure it has failed me to have seen,

Such a beautiful and lovely spot as that dear isle of green.

On the twenty ninth of July last I set sail from Queenstown quay,

To go onboard the Atlas that lay anchored on the bay,

While onboard the tender the elements angry grew,

The rain poured down, thunder roared, and lightning swiftly flew.

We all panic stricken passengers were sure our doom was sealed,

But king providence that ruled above did us protect and shield,

Fervently we prayed to God our terrors to allay,

Our request was quickly granted and we merrily sailed away.

Fear and dejection vanished from every Irish heart,

We all combined our pleasant jokes to mutually impart.

All onboard being thus cheered up we had fun and dance go leor,

And our mirth and glee was on the increase ‘till we struck Columba shore.

On Monday the ninth of August I was startled from my sleep,

By cries of land all over deck “now boys you need not fear.”

Our gallant ship the Atlas, it landed safe ashore,

With four hundred true brave Irish hearts from Paddy’s land once more.

A splendid land of Irish hearts that day were seen together,

In Boston wharf our friendship ties we were obliged to sever.

Each one fought his own way, his relatives for to find,

And in two hours more we scattered like chaff before the wind.

Thus left alone in Boston, how lonesome I did feel,

But happily for to console me was my cousin dear Mickeen.

At seven o’clock that evening started for Portland Maine,

And arrived there at eleven in a quickly going train.

At eight o’clock the following night we sailed from Machiasport ,

Onboard the steamer Louiseton a splendid rigged boat,

We arrived there at ten o’clock which was God’s blessed will,

And two hours more brought me down here to the town of Whitneyville.

If I am in a foreign land, a land that is free from rent,

Free from landlords, tyranny and despotic government.

Our landlords fast out-stripping that ‘pressive cruelty,

So boldly cling your noble cause you have American sympathy.

From the American daily papers I gleam old Irish news,

A joyful thrill that sends my heart to learn the land league news.

You all should join together and boldly assert your rights,

And you soon will be emancipated and be free from landlord tithes.

So far away in a foreign land I bid farewell to all,

To my juvenile companions the same I do befall.

To leave your own dear native home and travel far away,

As I have in my youthful days come to Americay.

Farewell to my Father and farewell to my Mother,

Farewell to my dear sisters, likewise my loving brother,

Farewell to acquaintances here in my enclose,

And I hope and wish we will meet again ere my life days shall close.

Farewell to the town of Cahirciveen, farewell green Erin’s shore,

Farewell to the land that gave me birth, will I ever see you more.

Farewell to you sweet Cappanagrown where in my childhood loved to play,

And I long with intense anxiety for to visit you some day.