I am looking for the author of this song. I learned this song from Shay Black, in his Folk Song Repertoire class at Freight & Salvage coffeehouse in Berkeley. CA. (I highly recommend the class.)

Shay learned it from Terry Coyne, back when they were both members of the group "Garva". (See http://www.thecelticlink.com/groups_bands_artists/band.aspx?id=171.)

Shay doesn't know who wrote it, and I have been unable to find it on Google or Mudcat.

MY OLD MAN

My old man has a heart that is warm,
as a breeze on a summer's afternoon.
He's gentle with his hands, you should see his fingers dance,
When he laughs he's as crazy as a loon.
Well, we've been together now for nigh-on sixteen years,
But I can't tell you how for I've cried so many tears.

CHORUS:
        For he can't seem to lay off the bottle,
        He just doesn't know when to stop.
        Something snaps in his head, and he won't come to bed
        'Til he's finished every drop.

My old man has been in and out of work
for as long as I can recall.
It's all for his grog that he can't hold down a job
And I don't know how we'll live at all.
But there's nothing that I need, I'm not that way inclined
But it makes my heart bleed for to see him get so blind.
CHORUS:

Well, I think I'll send the kids for a while with me mam,
And I'll take some time on my own.
We could talk but I doubt that we'd ever work it out
And I don't know if I could live alone.
Well, it's almost sixteen years, Christ, it's nearly half my life
But he's married to his booze and I don't feel much like a wife.
CHORUS:

My old man has a heart that is warm
as a breeze on a summer's afternoon.
He's gentle with his hands, you should see his fingers dance,
But now he's living in a rented room.
Well, we meet from time to time, but there's nothing left to say.
We once had something fine but the booze got in the way.
CHORUS:

        With a nick-knack, paddy-whack, give a dog a bone,
        My old man comes rolling home.