They traveled across the angry sea in 1849
With all that they could carry
They traveled sick, they traveled blind
Their home, the starving island, just a photo in their mind
They buried the dead at sea, winter 1849

The captain, a sailing man respected in his time
He’d made the journey twice before and almost lost his life
The hardest part was choosing who would sail and who would die
Left stranded with the hunger of 1849

They left behind the clans who’d been together a thousand years
With music and the memories ringing in their ears
They brought with them tradition and the will to work and die
In the land known for freedom, soil and sky

The memories of the loved ones, who were swallowed by the sea
Handed down from father to son, along with a rosary
One black bead for every soul forever lost in time
Who never heard the New Year’s bell of 1849

They left behind the clans who’d been together a thousand years
With music and the memories ringing in their ears
They brought with them tradition and the will to work and die
In the land known for freedom, soil and sky

His name was Patrick Mulligan, his eyes were steely blue
He lost his wife to famine and a younger son too
I know we’ll be united in the Lord’s good time
And hear the tales of family in 1849

They left behind the clans who’d been together a thousand years
With music and the memories ringing in their ears
They brought with them tradition and the will to work and die
In the land known for freedom, soil and sky