I too get choked up, though I recognize why people say it's maudlin. I guess I have a reasonably high maudlin threshold (as long as they don't sing it on "Celtic Woman" I can probably put up with it ;)).

My personal connection to this song is because when I got the chance to spend the summer in Ireland in 1994, when I arrived there was a call in from my mom telling me that my grandfather had been taken off dialysis and only had a few days to live. I adored my grandfather (and the feeling I believe was mutual) and for years it had been established that I would sing at his funeral. But this was my only chance to spend the summer in Ireland--if I went back, I couldn't afford to return. I had to make the decision pretty quickly, and after thinking about it, it seemed to me that my grandfather (who was of strong Irish descent) would not want me to give up the chance to get to know Ireland. I chose to stay. But that doesn't mean it didn't hurt like hell.

So, every time I hear, "And it's funny the way he kept talking about you, he called for you at the end;/Why don't you think about coming to visit? we'd love to see you again...", of course it feels pretty personal.

Argh. Combined with my harp playing/grandmother's deathbed story, I'm beginning to sound like a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. I guess that would explain why I have a high maudlin threshold *sigh*. But it's all true.

Molly