CORK CITY LIGHTS

By Mount Desert Sunday's Well and Montenotte,
How they sparkle, how they twinkle, how they glow,
In each mansion, in each home and in each valley,
On the mountain, on the hillocks down below,
In their myriads round the tower of grand old Shandon,
In their myriads by Brian Dillon's and St Luke's
There they glow with such delight and such abandon
In each crescent, in each terrace, in each nook.

There the lights I loved to watch in happy childhood,
There the lights I watched in boyhood young and gay,
There the lights that shine on hills above Cork city
In the twilight at the closing of each day
When the exiles come back home they glow to greet them
And the glamour spells a welcome in their breast
Ere their friends have turned out to kiss and greet them
In their smiles they are enfolded and caressed
There the lights that shine like stars along the harbour
And the glamour welcomes friends from far away

There the lights that shine on hills above Cork city
In the twilight at the closing of each day
There the lights I loved to watch in happy childhood,
There the lights I watched in boyhood young and gay,
There the lights that shine on hills above Cork city
In the twilight at the closing of each day

She is seated on a hill this lovely city
But her feet are in the water cool and deep
In her harbour safe her ships and trim and pretty
Whilst above her glowing hills a vigil keep
There the lights that shone for gallant young Mc Sweeney
For Mc Curtain also fair and brave and gay
Still they shine for them on hills above Cork city
In the twilight at the closing of each day