[D]Near the town of Liscannor in the county of Clare
Where [G]many great [D]Irishmans [G]plans were laid [Em]bare,,,[A]
You [D]saw the wild sea's as you stood on the heath
And [G]wondered and [D]gazed at the [Bm]ocean beneath
Your [D]life of re[G]ligion was [D]never to [G]be
you [D]soon found your [G]way to the [Em]land of the free,,[A]
In the [D]state of New Jersey you perfected your plan,
And your [G]work was un[D]veiled as the [Bm]great fenian ram

Chorus:

[D]Some men for ad[G]venture have [D]planned for the [G]stars
And [D]others had [Bm]hoped to see [Em]Venus or Mars,,[A]
but you [D]worked and you labored to build your wild dream
That [G]you'd be the [D]man with the [Bm]first submarine,,[D]

Now O'Donovan Rossa Bold Breslan Devoy
Knew that Holland's invention was real and no toy
For to take on the ships of the British Navy
And all would be done now from under the sea
The English protested to Old Uncle Sam
About the mischievous boat called the Great Fenian Ram
Oh he's just an inventor we've got nothing to hide
John Bull was so angry when the Yankees replied

Chorus

Neath the waves of the ocean this craft was at home
And the Fenians had plans for this boat for to roam
In the Passaic River, your friends were amazed
As your ship moved so silent neath the rivers and waves
An attack on the Empire was prevented by spies
And the cause was all crushed mid dissension and lies
But Uncle Sam's Navy was so proud of the boat
That the Holland's the name of the first sub afloat

Chorus

Here as I stand beside New York Bay
I can see all the ways you are remembered today
For your name is all written on tunnels and ships
On the streets of New York and on New Jersey's slips
So be proud sons of Erin, an Irishman he
John Holland the first for to voyage 'neath the sea
Leet the Statue of Liberty, a beacon shine free
For John Holland, the first for to voyage 'neath the sea.