Story Of The Ould Countre - song lyrics 
American Old-time song lyrics from www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
STORY OF THE OULD COUNTRE. Copyright, 1881, by T. B. Harms & Co. Written and Composed by Wm. J Scanlan 
I'll tell you a true story of a gossoon bould and free, Who left his home in Aghada and sailed across the sea, But he took a heavy heart with him, and many tears he shed, As past Kinsale the distance hid the ould historic hill. For his love she was behind him, and his fortune still to make. And Killarney's hills were dear to him for ould time's sake, And every day and every hour there rolled a broader sea Between the ship that bore him and the ould countre; And every day and every hour there rolled a broader sea Between the ship that bore him and the ould countre. 
And when he reached the far-off land he worked with might and main; He'd sworn to win a fortune ere he should return again; The toil was hard, the days were long, but, ah, the hardest part-No line or message ever came to cheer his aching heart; Fate smiled on him, the gold rolled in, and every one was kind, But he never for a day forgot the love he left behind, And night was welcome, bringing dreams in which he seemed to be With the girl he'd left behind him in the ould countre; And night was welcome, bringing dreams in which he seemed to be With the girl he'd left behind him in the ould countre. 
And then the cruel war broke out, the Irish boy took hold; He drew his sword for Liberty where once he worked for gold, And fortune did not lave him, for his name was on men's lips; He had a soldier's fame, his heart sailed homeward with the ships. He shared in many battles and won many deeds of praise. But, ah, he sickened in despair, to count the long, long days, And when the war was over, oh, how blithe and gay was he To seek the girl he worshipped in the ould countre; And when the war was over, oh, how blithe and gay was he To seek the girl he worshipped in the ould countre. 
He found her and her checks were pale, and tears were In her eyes; He found her, but her voice of love was strangled in her sighs; He found her thus, and all his wealth, his glory and renown, Were turned before him into weights that dragged his spirits down. And then and there he swore an oath, whatever might betide, That life, fame, riches, all, he'd stake to win her for his bride. She knew him not, yet love like hers he felt could never be All quenched in ten years' absence from the ould countre; She knew him not, yet love like hers he felt could never be All quenched in ten years' absence from the ould countre.