Carrickfergus - Paddy Reilly

I wish I was in Carrickfergus

Only for nights in Ballygrand

I would swim over the deepest ocean

Only for nights in Ballygrand

But the sea is wide and I cannot swim over

And neither have I the wings to fly

I wish I had a handsome boatsman

To ferry me over my love and I

(This verse is only sung on the «40 years «cd)

My childhood days bring back sad reflections

Of happy times there spent so long ago

My boyhood friends and my own relations

Have all past on now with the melting snow

So I’ll spend my days in this endless roving

Soft is the grass and shore, my bed is free

Oh to be home now in carrickfergus

On the long rode down to the salty sea

Now in Kilkenny it is reported

On marble stone there as black as ink

With gold and silver I would support her

But I’ll sing no more now til I get a drink

Cause I’m drunk today and I’m seldom sober

A handsome rover from town to town

Ah but I’m sick now my days are numbered

Come all me young men and lay me down

Come all me young men and lay me down