1869 being the date and the year
Those Waterloo sportsmen and more did appear
Oh, to view the great prizes and bear them away
Never counting on Ireland and Master McGrath
On the 12th of December, that day of renown
McGrath and his keeper, hey left Lurgan town
And a gale in the channel, it soon drove them o'er
On the 13th they landed on fair England's shore
And when they arrived there in great London Town
Those grand English sportsmen, they all gathered 'round
And one of those gentlemen gave a ha-ha
Saying: Is that the great dog they call Master McGrath?
Lord Lurgan stepped forward and he said, Gentlemen
If there's any among you has money to spend
For your great English greyhound, I don't care a straw
Five-thousand-to-one upon Master McGrath
White Rose stood uncovered, the great English pride
Her trainer and owner were both by her side
Oh, they led her away and the crowd cried: Hurrah
For the pride of all England and Master McGrath
As Rose and the Master, they both ran along
I wonder, says Rose, what took you from your home?
You should've stayed there in your Irish domain
And not come to gain laurels on Albion's plain
Well, I know, says McGrath, we have wild heather bogs
But you'll find, in old Ireland, we have good men and dogs
Lead-on, bold Britannia, give none of your jaw
For I'll garnish your laurels, says Master McGrath
Oh, the hare, she led-off, what a beautiful view
As swift as the wind o'er the green fields she flew
He jumped on the hares back and he held up his paw
Three cheers for old Ireland, said Master McGrath
I've known many greyhounds that filled me with pride
In the days that are gone, but it can't be denied
That the greatest and the bravest the world ever saw
Was our champion of champions, bold Master McGrath