Near the town of Liscannor in the county of Clare
Where many great Irishmen's plans were laid bare
You saw the wild seas as you stood on the heath
And you wondered and gazed at the ocean beneath
Your life of religion was never to be
You soon found your way to the land of the free
In the state of New Jersey, perfected your plan
And your work was unveiled as the Great Fenian Ram

[Chorus]
Some men for adventure had planned for the stars
And others had hope to see Venus or Mars
You worked and you laboured to build your wild dream
That you'd be the man with the first submarine

O'Donovan Rossa, ol' Breslin the boy
Knew that Holland's invention was for 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, though tested, complained to old Sam
Of a mischievous boat called a Great Fenian Ram

Oh, he's just an inventor, he'd nothing now to hide
Oh, John Bull was so angry when the Yankees replied

[Chorus]
Some men for adventure had planned for the stars
And others had hope to see Venus or Mars
Oh, you worked and you laboured to build your wild dream
That you'd be the man with the first submarine
'neath the waves of the ocean, this craft was at home
And the fenians had plans for the boat for to roam
In the Passaic River, their friends were amazed
As the 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 your boat
That the Holland's the name of the first sub afloat

[Chorus]
Some men for adventure had planned for the stars
And others had hope to see Venus or Mars
But you worked and you laboured to build your wild dream
That you'd be the man with the first submarine

And here, as I stand beside New York Bay
I can see all the ways you're remembered today
For your name, it is written on tunnels and ships
On the streets of New York and the New Jersey slips
Be proud, sons of Erin, an Irishman he
John Holland, the first for to voyage 'neath the sea
Let the Statue of Liberty a beacon shine free
For John Holland, the first for to voyage 'neath the sea

[Chorus]
Some men for adventure had planned for the stars
And others had hope to see Venus or Mars
But you worked and you laboured to build your wild dream
That you'd be the man with the first submarine