The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #787   Message #2284
Posted By: Alison
16-Feb-97 - 06:47 PM
Thread Name: Lyr/Chords Req: Kilkelly + Oro se do
Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: KILKELLY (arr. Mick Moloney)
The one about the potato famine is called "KILKELLY", and can be found on the CD "Bringing it all back home."
(Arr. Mick Moloney.)
 Em                  G                     D                   Em
Kilkelly, Ireland, eighteen and sixty, my dear and loving son John
Em G D Em
Your good friend the schoolmaster Pat McNamara is so good as to write these words down.
G D C Bm7
Your brothers have all gone to find work in England, the house is so empty and sad.
Em G D Em
The crop of potatoes is sorely affected a third to a half of them bad.
G D C Bm7
And your sister Bridget and Patrick O'Donnell are going to be married in June.
Em G D Em
Your mother says not to work on the railroad and be sure to come on home soon.
Kilkelly, Ireland, eighteen and seventy, my dear and loving son John,
Hello to your missus and to your four children, may they grow healthy and strong.
Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble, I suppose that he never will learn.
Because of the dampness there's no turf to speak of and now we've got nothing to burn.
And Bridget is happy you named the child for her although she's got six of her own.
You say you've found work, but you don't say what kind, or when you will be coming home.

Kilkelly, Ireland, eighteen and eighty, dear Michael and John my sons,
I'm sorry to give you the very sad news that your dear old mother has gone.
We buried her down at the church in Kilkelly, your brothers and Bridget 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 the people are selling, any price that they can.

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

Kilkelly, Ireland, eighteen and ninety two, my dear brother John.
I'm sorry I didn't write sooner to tell you that father passed on.
He was living with Bridget, she says he was cheerful and healthy right down to the end.
Oh you should have seen him playing 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.

Hope this helps, if you need the music let me know.
Alison

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