The Isaac Butt Bicentenary Song

Written by Patrick Bonar
Music by Martin McColgan

 

O parliament, O parliament, the potato crop with blight,
You took the wheat and maize to sustain your nation’s might.
The people died from hunger, typhus and TB,
And many went abroad to farther shores of liberty.

It was in the year 1813 Isaac Butt was born,
His family well connected to the O’Donnell bawn.
Schooled with Willie McArthur and the poet Frances Brown,
He went on to become a Barrister and counsel for the Crown.

-Chorus-

He defended Thomas Meagher and William Smith O’Brien,
And after, gave his services and never got a dime.
MP for Harwich, Youghal and Limerick too,
He took the Travers court case and defended the Fenians true.

O parliament, O parliament, the potato crop with blight,
You took the wheat and maize to sustain your nation’s might.
The people died from hunger, typhus and TB,
And many went abroad to farther shores of liberty.

He wrote on Irish poverty and for justice he did stand,
In “A Voice for Ireland and Famine on the Land”.
He was the head of Amnesty and orator so grand,
And told the Irish people, “United we shall stand!”

-Chorus-

Leader of his party, Home Rule was the brand,
He won support from Gladstone, who often shook his hand.
Land Bills, Land Bills, to pass them he did try,
But the heartless House of Lords always turned an eye.

O Parliament, O Parliament, where did you go wrong?
Isaac Butt, he did advise and put it over strong.
The people died from hunger, typhus and TB,
And many went abroad to farther shores of Liberty.

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