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]