American Old Time Song Lyrics: 37 Gladstone And Home Rule

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 37

GLADSTONE AND HOME RULE.
Written by John Jones.

The Good ship Home Rule, so long tossed In mid ocean,
Now rides in a harbor where friendly wind* blow.
Her grand old commander, with loyal devotion.
Still stands at the helm, with his face to the foe.
Courageous and noble, he ne'er would dissemble;
Unequaled in wisdom-in logic so cool;
Mm well-spoken words made his foes wince and tremble;
They fear this grim captain who tears the Horn* Rule.

Chorus.
Sail on, noble ship, you've a brave, fearless crew.
Irishmen! Patriots! men staunch and true,
Through seas of misfortune, through storms of misrule,
At last sails to freedom the good ship Home Rule.

The cause you've espoused is chivalric and glorious,
But remember your foes are well-armed for the fight.
Tho' baffled for years, you will yet prove victorious;
For you're fighting for freedom, for justice and right.
But, alas, on the storm-beaten shores of disunion,
The ship you would save may yet drift to her fate.
Her sole hope now lies in fraternal reunion,
Or she'll sink 'midst these tempests of factional hate.- Chorus

Oh, Erin, what great men were reared in thy cradle)
Brave Sarsfield, O'Connell and Emmet as well.
And where is another so fearless and able
As the intrepid, bold, but ill-fated, Parnell
Poor Ireland, he loved thee with fondest devotion;
Like Gladstone, no mishaps his arder could cool;
And they both met rebuffs on life's stormy ocean,
They never deserted the good ship Home Rule.-Chorus.