Grace O’Malley

(G. Gothard, W. Gothard, S. Gothard)

Sunrise in the window
A vessel in the bay 
Her father was the captain
And he would sail today 

She fed the kitten and the hen
Jumped the gate and then 
She cut off her hair, found shoes to wear
To look like one of the men 

Her father he made fun
Oh no what have you done 
I know you’d love to come my dear
But Grace you’re far too young 

And he said:
No woman sails the sea
They would become weak at the knee 
Stay here, be safe, on Erin’s shore
Just listen here to me 
For you it cannot be
There are dangers out on the sea 
Stay here, be safe
On Erin’s shore just listen here to me 

She felt the sun on her face
The waves beneath her feet 
Her father stood beside her
Laughing at his own defeat 

She washed the cannon and the gun
Jumped the stairs and then 
The captain roared a warning
All hands on deck, my men 

Get down below my lass he said
This danger too shall pass 
My men and I will defend the ship
And you will be safe at last 

CHORUS
I will tell you a story of a girl young and bright 
Red sky at night was her favorite light 
Of saltwater, danger and true bravery 
And the day Grace O’Malley first sailed the sea 

Gunfire overhead
Dust fell to the floor 
Grace refused to stay below
And crept out of the door 

She climbed the rigging and the mast
Looked behind and then 
A man behind her father came
A pirate with dagger in hand 

She leapt down from the mast
Her cry alerted the crew 
Onto the pirate’s back she fell
Before he ever knew 

Here was an answer to their prayers
Victory was theirs 
She saved the ship from pirates and
She saved her father’s crew

And they said :
This woman sails the sea, she won’t become weak at the knee 
She is the pride of Erin’s shore, just listen here to me 
For her it will always be a life upon the sea 
She is the pride of Erin’s shore, just listen here to me 

CHORUS