Last night as I lay dreaming  My way across the sea  James Mangan brought me comfort  With laudnum and poitin  He flew me back to Dublin  In 1819  To a public execution  Being held on Stephen's Green  The young man on the platform  Held his head up and he did sing  Then he whispered hard into my ear  As he handed me this ring  "If you miss me on the harbour  For the boat, it leaves at three  Take this snake with eyes of garnet  My mother gave to me!  This snake cannot be captured  This snake cannot be tied  This snake cannot be tortured, or  Hung or crucified  It came down through the ages  It belongs to you and me  So pass it on and pass it on  'Till all mankind is free  If you miss me on the harbour  For the boat, it leaves at three  Take this snake with eyes of garnet  My mother gave to me"  He swung, his face went purple  A roar came from the crowd  But Mangan laughed and pushed me  And we got back on the cloud  He dropped me off in London  Back in this dying land  But my eyes were filled with wonder  At the ring still in my hand  If you miss me on the harbour  For the boat, it leaves at three  Take this snake with eyes of garnet  My mother gave to me!  And if you miss me on the harbour  For the boat, it leaves at three  Take this snake with eyes of garnet  My mother gave to me!