Collection of Irish Song Lyrics
Master McGrath
Eighteen sixty-nine being the date of the year
The Waterloo sportsman, they all did appear
To win the great prize and to bear it away
Never counting on Ireland and Master McGrath
And when they arrived there in London town
The great English sportsman they did gather round
One of the gentlemen gave an, "Ha ha
Is that the great dog you call Master McGrath?"
Lord Lurgon stepped forward and he said, "Gentlemen,
If there are any among you have money to spend,
For your great English greyhound I don't care a straw.
Five thousand to one upon Master McGrath."
McGrath he looked up
and he wagged his old tail
informing his Lordship
"Sure I know what you mean.
Don't fear noble Brownlowe
don't fear them agraw.
We'll soon tarnish their laurels!"
Said Master McGrath
Well the Rose stood uncovered,
the great English pride
Her master and lorship
were there by her side.
Then they led her them away
and the crowd cried, "Hurrah!"
For the pride of all England and Master McGrath.
As Rose and the Master,
they both ran along,
"Well I wonder," said Rose,
"What took you from your home.
You should have stayed there i
in your Irish domain
And not come to gain laurels on Albion's plains."
"I know," said McGrath,
"We have wild heather bogs,
But you'll find in old Ireland
we have good men and dogs.
Lead on, bold Britannia,
give none of your jaw;
Snuff that up your nostrils,"
said Master McGrath.
The hare she led on,
just as swift as the wind,
He was sometimes before her
and sometimes behind
Then he jumped on her back
and he waved his old paw;
"Three cheers for old Ireland," said Master McGrath.
I've known many greyhounds
that filled me with pride
In the days that are gone
and it can't be denied,
But the greatest and the bravest
the world ever saw
Was our champion of champions,
brave Master McGrath
