My Song of Emigration
They bow their heads like praying
When they speak of Erin’s shore
Their tears fall like their grey hair
On their coats so old and worn
They speak in tongues that disappear
Like the work that brought them here
But their proud eyes hold their memories
Through the smoky atmosphere
They left their rainbows far behind
With news of finding work
They miss the grass beneath their feet
On this concrete where now they walk
They’ve worked the mines, they’ve dug the roads
It was so hard to have no trade
They’ve spent the greenback hard-earned grade
In the bars down memory’s lane
And they’d sing for me their precious songs
Come on, take me home again
Their songs of emigration
That would leave your heart in pain
They’d sing for me their songs of love
And speak their loved ones’ names
And how their hearts were aching
Just to see them once again.
In London’s town, I was feeling down
When I heard them singing clear
They awoke me from my dreaming
And my drunken sleepy stare
I arose to see a smiling face
As the phone call split the air
An old man said, ‘son, it’s for you
It’s long distance not so clear.’
And they’d sing for me their precious songs
Come on, take me home again
Their songs of emigration
That would leave your heart in pain
They’d sing for me their songs of love
And speak their loved ones names
And how their hearts were aching
Just to see them once again.
I heard a soft voice calling
It said, your poor old ma she’sgone
She’s in heaven now, a better place
Where she’ll never be alone
I bowed my head, I put down that phone
And I let my salt tears flow
And joined the lonely hearts’ club there
So many years ago.
Now let me sing for you my precious songs
Come on, take me home again
My song of emigration
That will leave your heart in pain
Let me sing for you my song of love
And I’ll speak my loved one’s name
And how my heart is aching
Just to see her once again.
And how my heart it’s breaking
Just to see her once again.
©Finbar Furey 1997
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