The Cast Kilkelly Lyrics

Kilkelly, Ireland, eighteen sixty, my dear and loving son John
Your good friend the school teacher 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
Be sure to come on home soon.

Kilkelly, Ireland, eighteen seventy, my dear and loving son John
Hello to your Mrs and to your four children,
May they grow healthy and strong.
Michael has got in a wee spot of trouble,
I suppose that he never will learn.
Because of the dampness there's no turf to speak of
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 found work, but you don't say what kind
Or when you'll be coming home.

Kilkelly, Ireland, eighteen eighty, dear Michael and John, my sons
I'm sorry to give you the very sad news
That your dear old mother's passed on.
We buried her at the church in Kilkelly,
Your brothers and Brigid 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 people are selling
At any price that they can.

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

Kilkelly, Ireland, eighteen ninetytwo, 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 says he was cheerful
And healthy right up to the end.
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 feisty old man,
Considering his life was so hard.
And it's funny the way he kept talking about you,
He called for you at the end.
Oh, why don't you think about coming to visit,
We'd all love to see you again.