Will You Come To The Bower?

 

Will you come to the bow'r o'er the free boundless ocean,
Where the stupendous waves roll in thundering motion,
Where the mermaids are seen and the fierce tempest gathers
To loved Erin in the green, the dear land of our fathers,
Will you come, will you, will you come to the bower?

" From those golden bright views to enchanting..."

Rostrevor, Northern Ireland

Image courtesy/ Trip Advisor

Will you come to the land of O'Neill and O'Donnell
Of Lord Lucan of old and the immortal O'Connell
Where Brian drove the Danes and St. Patrick the vermin
And whose valleys remain still most beautiful and charming.

You can visit Benburb and the storied Blackwater
Where Owen Roe met Munroe and his chieftains did slaughter
Where the lambs skip and play on the mossey all over
For those golden bright views to enchanting Rostrevor.

You can see Dublin city and the fine groves of Blarney
The Bann, Boyne, the Liffey and the lakes of Killarney;
You may ride on the tide o'er the broad majestic Shannon
You may sail round Loch Neagh and see storied Dungannon.

You can visit New Ross, gallant Wexford and Gorey,
Where the green was last seen by proud Saxon and Tory,
Where the soil is sanctified by the blood of each true man
Where they died satisfied, their enemies they would not run from.

Will you come and awake our lost land from its slumber,
And her fetters we will break, links that long are encumbered,
And the air will resound with Hosanna to greet you,
On the shore will be found gallant Irishmen to meet you.

"Will You Come To The Bower?"
(1979)
Folksongs And Ballads Popular
In Ireland
Collected, edited and arranged by
John Loesberg
Ossian Publications
Cork, Ireland

This song was meant as a home-coming invitation to exiled Irish
and in particular to the American supporters of the Fenian movement.