Lyrics

O where have you been, my little one;
O where have you been, my son?
I’ve been to the mine, my mother dear,
To meet my dad when he come.

And did you meet your dad, my son;
O did you meet your dad?
I did not meet my dad, mom,
For my dad, he did not come.

And why did your dad not come, my son;
O why did your dad not come?
Something terrible has happened, mama,
And my dad, he will never come.

O we must be brave this day, mama;
We must be brave, said the son,
For many men have died this day
When the trip went by the run.

There were three in all when the roll was called;
My dad, he was number one.
O we must be brave this day, mama,
For my dad, he was number one.

From O’Donnell, All the Fields are Green, p147.