John Spillane swimming in the Holy waters of the river Lee.

RIVER LEE

YOU'D WANT TO BE MAD TO GO SWIMMING IN THE RIVER
BUT THIS SUMMER
I'VE BEEN SWIMMING IN THE RIVER LEE
IN THE PLEASANT WATERS OF THE RIVER LEE
AND I HAVE BEEN SET FREE

I HAVE DIVED INTO THE HELL-HOLE
UNDER THE SYCAMORE TREE
AND I HAVE COME BACK TO TELL THE TALE
THAT I'VE BEEN SWIMMING IN THE LEE
AND THAT I HAVE BEEN SET FREE
I HAVE BEEN WASHED CLEAN

I HAVE DIVED INTO THE LAKE AT GOUGANE BARRA
AND SWAM WITH THE MONSTER
THE SERPENT LUGH
WHO WHIPPED THE SACRED VESSEL FROM THE SAINT'S HAND
THE LUNEEN
SHE BROKE THROUGH THE ROCK
AND FORMED THE RIVER LEE
I HAVE SWAM WITH THE MONSTER IN GOUGANE BARRA LAKE
AND I HAVE EMERGED UNSCATHED
I HAVE BATHED IN THE SACRED, CRYSTAL WATERS OF THE LEE
AND I HAVE BEEN SET FREE
MY SOUL HAS BEEN WASHED CLEAN

I DON'T NEED NO CHURCH MADE OF STONE
I HAVE SWAM IN THE HOLY WATERS OF THE RIVER LEE
AND I HAVE BEEN SET FREE

I'VE GONE OUT THE LEE FIELDS
BEYOND THE DINOSAUR
TO THE OLD MEN WHO GO THERE EVERY DAY
AND THEY SAYS TO ME JOHNNY BOY THEY SAYS
COME WITH US
WE WALKS UP AND WE FLOATS DOWN
AND THEY DOES
BUT I SAYS LADS I'M NOT GOING WITH YE
GIMME ANOTHER TEN OR FIFTEEN YEARS
AS I BREATHE IF I LIVE TO TELL THE TALE
I HOPE TO BE ONE OF THEM OLD MEN
WHO GOES THERE EVERY DAY
THEY WALKS UP AND THEY FLOATS DOWN

I DON'T NEED NO CHURCH MADE OF STONE
I'VE SWAM WITH THE GHOSTS IN INISCARRA GRAVE YARD
AND EMERGED ONCE AGAIN UNHARMED, A FEW GRAY HAIRS LIKE
AND COME BACK TO TELL YE THE TALE
TONIGHT IN THE MARQUEE
THAT I HAVE SWUM IN THE SACRED WATERS OF THE RIVER LEE
AND I HAVE BEEN WASHED CLEAN
I HAVE BEEN SET FREE

Printed with kind permission from John Spillane July 09