Thanks, guest, for calling my attention to the fact that there is at least one more song called COTTAGE BY THE SEA. This is my transcription from the recording on Spotify:


COTTAGE BY THE SEA
As sung by Kevin Prendergast on "Cottage by the Sea" (2011)

I said goodbye to Mayo and lifted my old case.
I couldn't bear to see the tears run down my mother's face.
My father gave me money, the last few bob he had,
Rolled up in a note that read: "Your ever-loving dad."

I dried my tears in Dublin as the big ship pulled away.
I thought of all the things I wished I hadn't time to say.
I started work in London and I thought all day of home
In a place so full of people, yet I was all alone.

CHORUS: I haven't been to church since I left Ireland.
I work on Sundays, I'm ashamed to say.
I'm living out of takeaways and tin cans,
And, yes, I got your letter yesterday.

I lied a little to you when I said that I've done well,
But things can change tomorrow; you can never tell.
I'm coming home next summer; for you want to sign to me
The ten acres and the fishing boat and our cottage by the sea. CHORUS

Well, the summers passed so quickly, I never made it home.
I'm too old now for working and I'm living on my own,
But when I've had too much to drink, through the tears I see
The ten acres and the fishing boat and our cottage by the sea. CHORUS


[Pat Floody and Pete McMonagle also sing this on the album "Pat Floody & Friends" (2007). Gerry Carney sings it on a "single" as the flip-side of "P.A.D.D.Y." (2010).]