RON KAVANA
Maria de la Rosa(R. Kavana, Chorus translation: E. Martinez)
I set out for Spain with a romantic notion
To trace the paths of Irish volunteers
Who had left their homeland to fight and die on foreign soil
In the late ‘Thirties, Franco’s bloody years.
In a sleazy bodega in the back streets of Bilbao
I met a girl with bright green eyes and long red hair
Maria De La Rosa O’Meara sang in Spanish
A version of She Moved Through The Fair’
Maria De La Rosa O’Meara
Sing your song one more time por favor,
Tell us the tale of your dead grandfather
And his part in the Spanish Civil War
Tell us that tale of crazy, noble glory –
Finn O’Meara and the Spanish Civil War.
Finn O’Meara joined the Basques up near San Sebastian
In the Northern campaign of ‘Thirty-Eight
And kept the supply lines open on the border
‘Til Barcelona fell and it was all too late.
Captured by the Blueshirts somewhere near Lareda
He faced a fascist firing squad that very day
His one last request “Bury me in Basque country
But know I die for freedom not for Spain”.
Maria De La Rosa O’Meara
Canta tu cancion por favor
Dinos la historia de tu abuelo muerto
Y su parte en la Guerra Civil
Dinos la historia de la loca y noble Gloria
Finn O’Meara en la Guerra Civil.