Here ya go lad. Great song, written by Terence Winch of the band, Celtic Thunder. I don't know which version you have heard but the original, sung by Laura Murphy is probably as good as it gets. Laura is a pretty interesting story. It seems she was encouraged by her friends to get up and sing at a Celtic Thunder pub gig, and she knocked the socks off everybody, including the band. According to the CD liner, she had to get on the phone and call her mother for lyrics to more songs. The Brothers winch hired her on the spot and the rest is history. She comes by it honest, though. Her Da, Frank Murphy sings with Glenfolk. At any rate, here are the lyrics.
WHEN NEW YORK WAS IRISH
(Terence Winch)
Key Bb - Capo 2nd, play A chord shapes
1) I'll sing you a song, of days long ago,
When people from Galway and the County Mayo.
From all over Ireland came over to stay,
And take up a new life in Am-- er--ikay. CHORUS
CHORUS:
They were ever so happy, they were ever so sad,
To grow old in a new world, through good times and bad.
All the parties and weddings, the Ceili's and Wakes,
When New York was Irish, full of joy and heartbreaks.
2) We worked on the subways, we ran the saloons,
We built all the bridges, we played all the tunes
We put out the fires, and controlled City Hall,
We started with nothing and wound up with it all. CHORUS & BRIDGE
3) You can travel from Kingsbridge, to Queens or midtown.
From Highbridge to Bayridge, from uptown to down.
From the Eastside to the seaside, sweet summer scene's,
We made New York City, our island of dreams.
CHORUS:
4.) I look at the photo's, now brittle with time;
Of the people I cherished, when the city was mine.
Oh how I love, all those radiant smiles,
How I long for the days, when we danced in the aisles.
CHORUS