THE FERRYBANK PIPER
(Robbie O'Connell)
As sung by Robbie O'Connell on "Recollections, Vol. 1"

By the river in the evening the piper used to play,
And down along the railway tracks he'd play songs sad and gay.
His pipes were always well in tune and the people used to say
His songs would echo on the evening tide and carry miles away.

CHORUS: So here's to the Ferrybank piper; may his sad tunes never die.
May his gay tunes raise your weary hearts, till in your grave you lie.

Sometimes he'd pipe a haunting tune; sometimes he'd hum a song,
But always a crowd would gather round and follow him along.
And the sound of their voices in the evening sky would rise and linger long,
But no more they echo on the evening tide, now that he is gone.

And now when I walk down that way and hear the river flow,
I think of that old piper and the songs he used to know.
A happy tune runs through my head and I sing it soft and low,
And I think I hear the echo of the evening tide, like the days of long ago.