O MY land! O my love! br What a woe, and how deep, br Is thy death to my long mourning soul! br God alone, God above, br Can awake thee from sleep, br Can release thee from bondage and dole! br Alas, alas, and alas! br For the once proud people of Banba! br br As a tree in its prime, br Which the axe layeth low, br Didst thou fall, O unfortunate land! br Not by time, nor thy crime, br Came the shock and the blow. br They were given by a false felon hand! br Alas, alas, and alas! br For the once proud people of Banba! br br O, my grief of all griefs br Is to see how thy throne br Is usurped, whilst thyself art in thrall! br Other lands have their chiefs, br Have their kings, thou alone br Art a wife, yet a widow withal! br Alas, alas, and alas! br For the once proud people of Banba! br br The high house of O’Neill br Is gone down to the dust, br The O’Brien is clanless and banned; br And the steel, the red steel br May no more be the trust br Of the Faithful and Brave in the land! br Alas, alas, and alas! br For the once proud people of Banba! br br True, alas! Wrong and Wrath br Were of old all too rife.