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John Mitchell Lyrics by Gary Shearston

Folk Songs and Ballads of Australia

2013

I am a true-born Irishman, John Mitchell is my name:
When first I joined my comrades from Newry town I came;
I laboured hard both day and night to free my native land
For which I was transported unto Van Dieman´s Land

When first I joined my countrymen it was in ´42;
And what did happen after that I´ll quickly tell to you;
I raised the standard of Repeal, I gloried in the deed;
I vowed to heaven I ne´er would rest till Old Ireland would be freed

Farewell my gallant comrades, it grieves my heart full sore
To think that I must part from you, perhaps for evermore;
The love I bear my native land, I know no other crime;
This is the reason I must go into a foreign clime

As I lay in strong irons bound, before my trial day
My loving wife came to my cell, and thus to me did say:
"Oh, John, my dear, cheer up your heart, undaunted always be
For it´s better to die for er'yone´s rights than live in slavery."

I was placed on board a convict ship without the least delay;
For Bermuda´s Isle our course was steered: I´ll ne´er forget the day
As I stood upon the deck to take a farewell view
I shed a tear, but not for fear; my native land, for you

Adieu! Adieu! to sweet Belfast, and likewise Dublin too
And to my young and tender babes; alas, what will they do?
But there´s one request I ask of you, when your liberty you gain
Remember John Mitchell far away, though a convict bound in chains
Credits
Gary Shearston

Gary Shearston

About “John Mitchell” by Gary Shearston

Read the complete lyrics to "John Mitchell" by Gary Shearston from the album "Folk Songs and Ballads of Australia" in 2013. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Australia, Country.

"John Mitchell" is performed by Gary Shearston. from the album "Folk Songs and Ballads of Australia" in 2013 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "John Mitchell", explore more songs by Gary Shearston using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Gary Shearston · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"John Mitchell" is credited to Gary Shearston. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"John Mitchell" appears on "Folk Songs and Ballads of Australia" in 2013.

Visit the Gary Shearston artist page at /artist/gary-shearston for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.

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