Peter McCluskey
In Dublin fair city, north side of the river.
Me and me brother, we lived in the light
Children of God, we knew no better
Our mother and father worked day and night.
And we played Ring a Rosie in the middle of our street
Stayed out past midnight till our songs were sung
Queeny-i-o now, who has the ball
Back in the days when we were still young
Back in the days when we were still young
They counted their blessings, lit penny candles
Neighbours helped out when times, they were hard
School days, holy days, mass on a Sunday
Chasing butterflies in our backyard
And I wore a communion suit made for my brother
Handed down from him to me.
The priest on the altar - he asked God to save us
Hallelujah, let it be.
And one day my grandmother went up to heaven
Her friends and relations they gave her a wake
They sat in the parlour and drank up their whiskey
Sang the old songs - ate up Ma's cake
On a hot summer's day, we'd head for the station
Take the train out to Balbriggan Strand
Roll in waves - search in the rock pools
Hold little fishes in the palm of our hand
And every tomorrow we took what God sent
Never expecting our dreams to come true
And if I look back now - on all those great days
Nothing I'd change - these words are true.
