School: Eslin (roll number 10026)

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1. Song (continued)

   “Twenty years boy to-day I grasped my mother's hand”

   

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   are far away
   Don't forget your poor aged mother for across the seas
   & write her a letter now and then
   And send her all you can
   But do not forget when 'er you roam
   That you are an Irishman.

   This song was composed by a man the name of William McKenna. He was living beside a boy the name of John Faughnan who was going to America, and heard his mother saying, Good-bye to him like the way it is in the song, and he made up that. When she heard him singing it after she was surprised and of course very lonely. This is about fifty years ago. He also composed many other songs and they are all very good. He would sing them [?] several times himself first to see could he improve of them. Then he would tell all the

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. genre
      1. poetry
         1. folk poetry (~9,504)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Pilib Mac Aonghusa

   Gender

   Male

   Occupation

   Teacher

   Address

   Mohill, Co. Leitrim