The Hackler From Grouse Hall

I am a roving hackler lad that loves the shamrock shore

My name is Pat McDonnell and my age is eighty-four

Belov'd and well-respected by my neighbours one and all

On St. Patrick's day I loved to stray round Lavey and Grouse Hall

When I was young I danced and sung and drank good whiskey, too

Each síbín shop that sold a drop of the real old mountain dew

With the poitín still on every hill the peelers had no call

Round sweet Stradone I am well known, round Lavey and Grouse Hall

I rambled round from town to town for hackling was my trade

None can deny I think that I an honest living made

Where e'er I'd stay by night or day the youth wud always call

To have some crack with Paddy Jack, the hackler from Grouse Hall

I think it strange how times have changed so very much of late

Coercion now is all the row and Peelers on their bate

To take a glass is now, alas, the greatest crime of all

Since Balfour placed that hungry beast the Sergeant of Grouse Hall

The busy tool of Castle rule he travels night and day

He'll seize a goat just by the throat for want of better prey

The nasty skunk, he'll swear you're drunk tho' you took none at all

There is no peace about the place since he came to Grouse Hall

'Twas on pretence of this offence he dragged me off to jail

Alone to dwell in a cold cell my fate for to bewail

My hoary head on a plank bed, such wrongs for vengeance call

He'll rue the day he dragged away the hackler from Grouse Hall

He haunts the League just like a plague, and shame for to relate

The priest can't be on Sunday free the Mass to celebrate

It's there he'll kneel encased in steel prepared on duty's call

For to assail and drag to jail our clergy from Grouse Hall

Down into hell he'd run pell-mell to hunt for poitín there

And won't be loath to swear an oath 'twas found in Killinkere

He'll search your bed from foot to head, sheets, blankets, tick and all

Your wife, undressed, must leave the nest for Jemmy of Grouse Hall

He fixed a plan for one poor man who had a handsome wife

To take away without delay her liberty and life

He'd swear quite plain that he's insane and got no sense at all

As he has done of late with one convenient to Grouse Hall

Thank God the day's not far away when Home Rule will be seen

And brave Parnell at home will dwell and shine in College Green

Our policemen will all be then our nation's choice and all

Old Balfour's pack will get the sack and banished from Grouse Hall

Let old and young clear out their lungs and sing this little song

Come join with me and let him see you all resent the wrong

And while I live I'll always give a prayer for his downfall

And when I die I don't deny I'll haunt him from Grouse hall