The Wests Asleep Cifras

[Verse 1]
     G            C
When all around a vigil keep,
    D                  G
The West's asleep, the West's asleep
                   C
Alas! and well may Éire weep
     D                G
When Connacht lies in slumber deep.
                           C
There lake and plain smile fair and free,
     Am                   D7
'Mid rocks their guardian chivalry.
      G       D         Em
Sing, Oh! let man learn liberty
             D                 G
From lashing wind and crashing sea.
 
[Verse 2]
     G                  C
That chainless wave and lovely land
D           G
Freedom and nationhood demand;
                     C
Be sure no great God ever planned
    D                   G
For slumb'ring slaves a home so grand.
                     C
And long a brave and haughty race
Am                       D7
Honoured and sentinelled the place.
      G       D          Em
Sing, Oh! not even their sons' disgrace
          D           G
Can quite erase their glory's trace.
 
[Verse 3]
     G                  C
For often, in O'Connor's van,
   D                   G
To triumph dashed each Connacht clan,
                      C
And fleet as deer the Normans ran
    D                   G
Through Corrsliabh Pass and Ardrahan;
                      C
And later times saw deeds as brave,
Am                       D7
And glory guards Clann Ricard's grave,
      G        D                  Em
Sing, Oh! they died their land to save
             D                    G
At Aughrim's slopes and Shannon's wave.
 
 
[Verse 4]
    G                    C
And if, when all a vigil keep,
   D                   G
The West's asleep! the West's asleep!
                        C
Alas! and well may Erin weep
       D                      G
Should Connacht lie in slumber deep.
 
[Pause]
                                C
But, hark! a voice like thunder spake,
   Am                        D7
The West's awake! the West's awake!
      G        D                  Em
Sing, Oh! Great Gods! let Armies quake,
                 D                    G
We'll watch till death for Éireann's sake!
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