Spacing is a bit messed up (so the chord changes don't quite line up)but you get the idea. I cried like a baby the first time I played this song. ..
Em G D Em
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 60, my dear and loving son John
Em
Your good friend the schoolmaster
G D Em
Pat McNamara's so good as to write these words down.
G D
Your brothers have all gone to find work in England,
C D B
the house is so empty and sad
Em G
The crop of potatoes is sorely infected,
D Em
a third to a half of them bad.
G D
And your sister Brigid and Patrick O'Donnell
C D B
are going to be married in June.
Em G
Your mother says not to work on the railroad
D Em
and be sure to come on home soon.
Em G D Em
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 70, my dear and loving son John
Em G
Hello to your Mrs and to your 4 children,
D Em
may they grow healthy and strong.
G D
Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble,
C D B
I guess that he never will learn.
Em G
Because of the dampness there's no turf to speak of
D Em
and now we have nothing to burn.
G D
And Brigid is happy, you named a child for her
C D B
although she's got six of her own.
Em G
You say you found work, but you don't say
D Em
what kind or when you will be coming home.
Em G D Em
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 80, dear Michael and John, my sons
Em G
I'm sorry to give you the very sad news
D Em
that your dear old mother has gone.
G D
We buried her down at the church in Kilkelly,
C D B
your brothers and Brigid were there.
Em G
You don't have to worry, she died very quickly,
D Em
remember her in your prayers.
G D
And it's so good to hear that Michael's returning,
C D B
with money he's sure to buy land
Em G
For the crop has been poor and the people
D Em
are selling at any price that they can.
Em G D Em
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 90, my dear and loving son John
Em G
I guess that I must be close on to eighty,
D Em
it's thirty years since you're gone.
G D
Because of all of the money you send me,
C D B
I'm still living out on my own.
Em G
Michael has built for himself a fine house
D Em
and Brigid's daughters have grown.
G D
Thank you for sending your family picture,
C D B
they're lovely young women and men.
Em G
You say that you might even come for a visit,
D Em
what joy to see you again.
Em G D Em
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 92, my dear brother John
Em G D Em
I'm sorry I didn't write sooner to tell you that father passed on.
G D
He was living with Brigid, she says he was cheerful
C D B
and healthy right down to the end.
Em G
Ah, you should have seen him play with
D Em
the grandchildren of Pat McNamara, your friend.
G D
And we buried him alongside of mother,
C D B
down at the Kilkelly churchyard.
Em G
He was a strong and a feisty old man,
D Em
considering his life was so hard.
G D
And it's funny the way he kept talking about you,
C D B
he called for you in the end.
Em G
Oh, why don't you think about coming to visit,
D Em
we'd all love to see you again.
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