THE COFFIN SHIPS









LONG WERE THE DAYS WHEN WE SET FORTH FROM CORK
CRAMMED IN THE HOLDS LIKE SOME BEEF OR SOME PORK
CROSSING THE GREY SEAS WITH ALL THAT WE OWNED IN ONE BAG

LONG WERE THE LINES WHEN WE MADE IT TO PORTS
DID GOD BLESS AMERICA WITH GANGS AND COHORTS
LIVING IN HOVELS, INDENTURED AND DRESSED ALL IN RAGS
WE CAME ON THOSE COFFIN SHIPS

A THIRD OF US BURIED AT SEA, NO MEMORIALS
NARY A SIGN TO REMEMBER OUR LOSS
FACING STARVATION WE LOOKED TO OUR CHURCHES
THEY FED US THE SIGN OF THE CROSS

THROUGH DECADES OF STRUGGLE WE STARTED TO RISE
PRODUCED A PRESIDENT, WEPT WHEN HE DIED
REMEMBER ALWAYS THAT ACRONYM 'NINA'
NO IRISH NEED TO APPLY

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