Full Lyrics
adapted from “Dear Harp of My Country”
Harp of my country! in darkness I found thee,
Deep spell of silence had hung o’er thee long;
Proudly, mine own Island Harp, I unbound thee,
Gave all thy chords to light, freedom, and song!
Warm lay of passion, the light note of gladness,
Lovingly waken’d thy liveliest thrill;
Oft hast thou echoed the deep sigh of sadness;
E’en in thy mirth it will steal from thee still!
Dear harp of Erin, farewell to thy numbers!
This sweet wreath of song is the last we entwine!
Sleep with the sunshine of Fame on thy slumbers,
Till touch’d by some hand less unworthy than mine!
Harp of my country! how fair is thy seeming!
Thy mem’ries sacred fond hearts e’er enshrine.
Here, with the magic of love in our dreaming,
One wreath of song and the last we entwine!
Say, doth the pulse of the patriot or lover
Throb to my lay? ’tis thy glory alone!
I’m but the wind passing heedlessly over,
All the wild sweetness I wake is thine own.
Dear harp of Erin, farewell to thy numbers!
This sweet wreath of song is the last we entwine!
Sleep with the sunshine of Fame on thy slumbers,
Till touch’d by some hand less unworthy than mine!
