my story might seem fanciful, but every word is true.
about the bold young Thomas Meagher from Waterford he come.
'tis said he didn't care to hear the beat of an English drum.
well schooled in world philosophies, he was a merchant's son.
A lover of great poetry, he was handy with a song.
he grew famed for giving orat'ries seditious to the crown
'till the judge he said that Thomas Meagher would be Van Deman bound.
if life it be a precious jewel and liberty a gem;
we should not forget the thoughts of freedom loving men.
to bosses in tasmania one day a note come 'round
was Thomas said:" this very night i'll be escaping from your town
come catch me if you're able", the brash young Meagher did say.
while their horses cleared the stable, he was rowing in the bay.
then near the town of Fredricksburg he lead his men up hill
where the foolish General Burnside sent so many to be killed.
the rebels poured a murderous fire from a wall by a sunken road;
yet in the rising tumult, an emerald banner showed.
if life it be a precious jewel and liberty a gem;
we should not forget the thoughts of freedom loving men.
death it came to Thomas Meagher in Montana late one day.
it was when the war was over. he'd been through the bloody frays.
they said that from a steamer he fell overboard and drowned.
in the wide river water, no body was ever found.
so come you independent folk wherever that you be
and give a thought to those who fought for human dignity.
if you're on the missouri, just a driftin way out there;
i hope you'll pause to say a prayer for the soul of Thomas Meagher.
if life it be a precious jewel and liberty a gem;
we should not forget the thoughts of freedom loving men.
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