The Evictions

Gsus                                         Bm
My name it is Sweeney, a father of two sons I am,
D                                           Gsus
A cottier tenant, like many a true mountain man,
Gsus                                             Bm
My wife fell to famine and my heart will never repair,
    D                         Cadd9                Gsus
But worse was to come in the form of a John George Adair.

[Verse 2]
Gsus                                             Bm
The news in the valley, a stranger had bought up land,
     D                                      Gsus
Soon twenty eight thousand aces he would command,
Gsus                                                Bm
But we were to learn that the blood in his body ran cold,
        D                    Cadd9             Gsus
For the suffering of the poor was John Adair's goal.

[Chorus]
     Em             C                   G
The hills and the mountains know your name,
      Em        C                     G
The deer even hang their heads in shame,
      Em         C             G
And even the longest winter's rain,
           Em               C          G
Can't wash away for the suffering and pain,
           C        D       G
Of the Evictions at Derryveagh.

[Verse 3]
    Gsus                                      Bm
You swore on us lies, you had us arrested and jailed
        D                                            Gsus
For the murder of Murray your agent, but justice prevailed
Gsus                                                    Bm
But vengeance was feasting inside of your cold Scottish heart
        D                     Cadd9                     Gsus
So, the notice was given, the people and land they must part

[Verse 4]
    Gsus                  Bm
One morning in April, 1861
D                                                 Gsus
Two hundred soldiers, their bayonets shone in the sun
Gsus                                            Bm
Led by the sheriff they marched with the Crowbar brigade
      D                       Cadd9                    Gsus
And a widow, six daughters, a son, first homeless were made

Repeat Chorus

[Breakdown]
Em      Asus2   Repeat

[Verse 5]
    Gsus                                            Bm
Two hundred and forty-four people made homeless that day
      D                                                      Gsus
While John Adair's castle was planned for the shores of Lough Veagh
Gsus                                       Bm
Some to the poorhouse, some to Australia's shore
    D                     Cadd9                     Gsus
But all said goodbye to a homeland they'd see never more