The Evictions

[Spoken]

"Lo in the wilds of Donegal, where heather bloom is bred, round lake and cliff, on moor and mean, onto the mountains head. Our cabin homes, our natal homes our kindred's homes were they. Lay ruined by dominions of the spoiler of Glenveagh

My Name it is Sweeney a father of two sons I am,

A collier tenant like many a true mountain man,

My wife fell to famine and my heart will never repair,

But worse was to come in the form of a John George Adair.

The news in the valley a stranger had bought up the land,

Soon twenty eight thousand acres he would command,

But we were to learn that the blood in his body ran cold,

For the suffering of the poor was John Adair 's goal.

[Chorus:]

The Hills and the mountains know your name,

The deer even hang their heads in shame,

and even the longest winters rain,

Can't wash away all the suffering and pain,

Of the Evictions at Derryveagh.

You swore on us lives you had us arrested in jail

For the murder of Murray your agent, but justice prevailed

But vengeance was feasting inside of your cold Scottish heart

So the notice was given, people and land they must part

One morning in April 1861

Two hundred soldiers their bayonets shone in the sun

Led by the sheriff they marched with the Crowbar brigade

And a widow, six daughters a son, first homeless were made

[Chorus]

Two hundred and forty four people made homeless that day

While John Adair's castle was planned for the shores of Loch Veagh

Some to the poorhouse, some to Australia's shore

But all said goodbye to a homeland they'd see never more

[Chorus]