O the dear early days in my own fair land! 
In beautiful dreams they come back to me, 
And the friends of my boyhood around me stand, 
Though far between us the deep blue sea, 

And the vales and the cottage I left long ago, 
Come before me in joy that my lips cannot tell! 
But my visions they fade in the morning's red glow, 
Sweet Emerald Isle that I love so well! 

Chorus: 
Sweet Emerald Isle, 
Sweet Emerald Isle, 
The heart in my bosom is all thine own, 
Sweet Emerald Isle that I love so well! 

Oh! I wake to thy sorrows my childhood's home; 
For shadows are dark o'er thy sacred soil! 
And thy woes I am sharing while here I roam, 
And so are all of thy song of toil. 
But thy future is brighter; in glory thou'lt shine, 
For thy children are tolling foul tyranny's knell! 
Ev'ry wish of my heart, land of beauty is thine, 
Sweet Emerald Isle that I love so well!

Chorus: 
Sweet Emerald Isle, 
Sweet Emerald Isle, 
The heart in my bosom is all thine own, 
Sweet Emerald Isle that I love so well!