歌手:Matt Molloy
专辑:《Music at Matt Molloy's》

作曲 : Traditional
Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and sixty, my dear and lovin' son John
Your good friend the Schoolmaster Pat McNamara
So good as to write these words down
Your brothers have all gone to find work in England
The house is so empty and sad
The crop of potatoes is sorely infected
A third to a half of them bad
And your sister Brigid and Patrick O'Donnell
Are going to be married in June
Your mother says not to work on the railroad
And be sure to come on home soon

Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and sixty, my dear and lovin' son John
Hello to your missus and to your four children
May they grow healthy and strong
Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble
I suppose he never will learn
Because of the dampness there's no turf to speak of
And now we have nothing to burn
And Brigid is happy, you named a child for her
Although she's got six of her own
You say you've found work
But you don't say what kind
Or when you'll be comin' home

Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and eighty, dear Michael and John my sons
I'm sorry to give you the very sad news
Your mother has gone
We buried her down at the church in Kilkelly
Your brothers and Bridget were there
You don't have to worry, she died very quickly
Remember her in your prayers
And it's so good to hear that Michael's returning with money he's sure to buy land
For the crop has been poor and the people are selling
For any price that they can

Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and ninety, my dear and lovin' son John
I suppose that I must be close on eighty
It's thirty years since you've gone
Because of all of the money you sent me
I'm still living' out of my own
Michael has built himself a fine house
And Bridget's daughters have grown
And thank you for sendin' your family picture
They're lovely young women and men
You say you might even come for a visit
What a joy to see you again

Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and ninety two, my dear brother John
I'm sorry I didn't write sooner to tell you that father has gone
He was living with Brigid, she said he was cheerful and healthy right down to the end
And you should have seen him play with the grandchildren
Of Pat McNamara your friend
And we buried him alongside of mother
Down at Kilkelly churchyard
He was a strong and a feisy old man
Considering that life is so hard
And it's funny the way he kept talkin' about you
He called for you at the end
And why don't you think about comin' to visit
We'd all love to see you again