(chorus) The stars they would dance to the songs that we sang And we would all watch the embers glow We had each other and our times together Were the best you could ever know We knew we were poor but we had so much more Of what makes life special, that's for sure Life was so much simpler then Around the bonfire on the shore
Dad was gone all week so we were able to eat He'd sell tools to the hardware stores On his one night at home we all would get him alone To tell our stories of the week before He'd smile and he'd say in his own special way "They are the best tales a man could hope for" And with a smile and a wink he would all make us think That he was prouder than the week before
chorus
Then we'd head for the beach and from there he would teach Us songs we had never heard before His voice it would rise above the swell of the tide He'd sing songs full of love and war Songs of how men had died full of pure Irish pride Songs of hope that made our spirits soar And we'd all join in until we had to give in And fall asleep to the ocean's roar
chorus
When I look back on those days I can still see the way That my dad looked at all of his boys The one little girl with the pretty black curls Is what gave the man so much joy When he'd have to away he would never let us say The word "goodbye" because that seemed too long He'd give a pat on the back, say "so long til I'm back" To teach you all another song