Classic Poem

Far from the land of your boyhood's wild pleasure,
Sorrowing exiles, ah, why do you rest?
Beautiful Erin, your heart's long-lost treasure,
Welcomes her wanderers home to her breast.
Over the sea comes her voice softly flowing,
Wafted by breezes triumphantly blowing,
Telling that soon on her fields shall be glowing
Erin's bright sunburst, the flag of the free.
Erin's bright sunburst, the glorious sunburst,
Erin's bright sunburst, the flag of the free.

What though Britannia's insolent minions
Shout o'er her fall in derision and joy?
Freedom has furled not her conquering pinions;
Still lives the spirit that saved Fontenoy.
Still by the cabin is told Limerick's story.
And how on the battlements lurid and gory,
Bright o'er the fray like a meteor's glory,
Shone Erin's sunburst, the flag of the free.
Erin's bright sunburst, the glorious sunburst,
Erin's bright sunburst, the flag of the free.

Hark! the brave martyrs of conflict and scaffold,
Slain for the cause of your beautiful land,
Exiled O'Connell the ruined and baffled,
Emmet and all of the patriot band,
Summon you o'er the Atlantic's blue water.
Haste as the eagle that scents the red slaughter;
Fight the old foe as your ancestors fought her;
Up with the sunburst, the flag of the free.
Erin's bright sunburst, the glorious sunburst,
Erin's bright sunburst, the flag of the free.

Soon the wronged island shall take her proud station,
Freedom's first vanguard on Europe's wide coast;
Youngest of lands, yet victorious nation,
Humbling proud England's contemptuous boast.
Then shall the star of the ocean be splendid,
And Erin's glad soul, by long thraldom unbended,
Mount in hosannas, her servitude ended,
Round her bright sunburst, the flag of the free.
Erin's bright sunburst, victorious sunburst,
Erin's bright sunburst, the flag of the free.