O'donnell, The Avenger - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
O'DONNELL, THE AVENGER. Copyright, 1883, by W. J. McVey. Tune:- "Wearing of the Green." 
In Newgate's gloomy prison they have dug a narrow grave, And in it sleeps O'Donnell, the bravest of the brave; From this world be sent a monster who is numbered with the damned, The base and brutal Carey, who disgraced his native land. 
Chorus. Now Carey's gone before the Great Tribune, where truth he had to tell, Where all his perjured evidence could not save his soul from hell; Where his crimes stood plain before him and he could not them deny. And the blood of Irish martyrs for revenge did loudly cry. 
He was the organizer of the Mysterious Number One, He planned the double murder and he led the bloody van; For worldly greed he done the deed, his countrymen he sold, Like Judas in the Scripture, for his Saxon master's gold.-Chorus. 
O'Donnell left his native land when he was very young. To seek an honest living in the land of Washington; He bade adieu to Donegal, and prayed that he might see The Saxon driven from Lough Foyle and the green flag flying free.-Chorus. 
He lived beneath the stars and stripes when fortune on him shone. But thought he would return again to see his dear old home; He was shadowed by detectives, so he bade his friends good-bye, And started off for Africa his fortune there to try.-Chorus. 
On board the Kinsfann Castle from England he did sail. She was a British steamship, and carried the Cape Town mail; Among the cabin passengers he met an Irishman, Who with his wife and family were bound for that distant land.-Chorus. 
They shook hands and made acquaintance in the real old Irish style, The stranger looked suspicious, but vainly tried to smile; He seemed to be in trouble or had something on his mind, O'Donnell thought he mourned the loss of those he left behind.-Chorus. 
'Twas noticed he kept distant from the passengers and crew, And always tried to hide his face from everybody's view; Like Cain when he slew Abel, he could find no place to hide. He fancied vengeance followed him upon the ocean wide.-Chorus. 
When they arrived in Cape Town a rumor did arise, That Carey, the informer, was with them in disguise; The thought struck O'Donnell that Powers was the man, And soon on board the Melrose they face to face did stand.-Chorus. 
The informer had been drinking, his manner it was changed. It seemed as though he got a blow that set his mind deranged; He rushed upon O Donnell and swore he would have his life, But a bullet pierced his traitorous heart in presence of his wife.-Chorus. 
They have found O'Donnell guilty in the first degree. But he simply stood in self defense before a brute at sea; Who brought his wretched family to sorrow, grief and shame, They will shake with fear and blush to hear their cowardly father's name. - Cho ' 
Surrounded by his enemies, and from his prison cell Marched O'Donnell to the gallows, and his look did plainly tell, He would mount the tyrant's scaffold, his Saxon foes defy. For Ireland and the Irish he was not afraid to die.-Chorus.