American Old Time Song Lyrics: 35 The Portrait Of My Mother In Old Ireland Far Away

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 35

The Portrait of My Mother in Old Ireland Far Away.
Copyright, 1890, by Frank Harding.
Words by Frank Archer. Music by Tom Richards.

It was on St. Patrick's day, when a young boy blithe and gay,
I left old Ireland o'er the seas in roam;
My mother she was poor, with misfortune at her door,
Which compelled me to leave my good old home.
She left me on the quay, and her portrait gave to me,
I kissed it and I gently dropped a tear;
With sad heart I left the place with my dear old mother's face,
The portrait that my mother gave to me.

Chorus.
For it hangs in the corner of an old-fashioned cot,
And may the shamrocks round it ne'er decay;
Though she's many miles from here, in my heart her face is dear.
The portrait of my mother in old Ireland far away.

In a neat, old-fashioned cot a place I quickly got,
As stable boy, tho' scarcely yet sixteen;
My duties they were light, yet I toiled from morn till night
To make a home for my old mother dear.
My master he was kind, And in sympathy he said,
You'll find a friend in me whate'er befalls;
In that cot I found a place for my dear old mother's face,
And it hangs with the pictures on the wall. -Chorus.

I will soon see her again, and with her I'll remain;
She's growing old and feeble every day;
She will welcome me, I know, for it seemed so long ago,
I left my dear old home so far away.
And her dear face I'll miss when she is dead And gone,
And laid beneath the cold, cold ground to sleep;
With the shamrocks that she gave I will decorate her grave,
Her portrait near my heart I'll always keep.- Chorus.