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!