The Elders - 1849 lyrics

They traveled across the angry sea in 1849 With all that they could carry They traveled sick they traveled blind Their home the starving island just a photo in their mind They buried the dead at sea, winter 1849 The captain was a sailing man respected in his time He'd made the journey twice before and almost lost his life The hardest part was choosing who would sail and who would die Left stranded with the hunger of 1849 They left behind the clans who'd been together a thousand years With music and the memories ringing in their ears They brought with them tradition and the will to work and die In the land known for freedom, soil and sky The memories of the loved ones, who were swallowed by the sea Handed down from father to son along with a rosary One black bead for every soul forever lost in time Who never heard the New Year's bell of 1849 They left behind the clans who'd been together a thousand years With music and the memories ringing in their ears They brought with them tradition and the will to work and die In the land known for freedom, soil and sky His name was Patrick Mulligan his eyes were steely blue He lost his wife to famine and a younger son too I know we'll be united in the Lord's good time And hear the tales of family in 1849 They left behind the clans who'd been together a thousand years With music and the memories ringing in their ears They brought with them tradition and the will to work and die In the land known for freedom, soil and sky