The lyrics below I transcribed from a crappy old tape. The lines I'm not sure of I will put in brackets. The story I was told is that John died without ever returning to Ireland and the letters were found by his grandson, who wrote the song. On my tape the song is reportedly sung by Mick Maloney, Jimmy Keanne and Robbie O'Connell so it may have been one of them who wrote it but I don't know.

Kilkenny, Ireland 18 and 60, My dear loving son John,
your good friend the schoolmaster Pat (McMurrough) was so good as to write these words down.
Your brothers have all gone to find work in England, the house is so empty and sad.
The crop of potatoes is sorely infected, a third to a half of them bad.
And your sister Brigid and Patrick O'Donnell are going to be married in June.
Your mother says not to work on the railroad and be sure to come on home soon.
Kilkenny, Ireland 18 and 70, My dear loving son John,
Hello to your missus and to your four children, may they grow healthy and strong.
Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble, I suppose that he never will learn.
Because of the dampness there's no turf to speak of and now we have nothing to burn.
Brigid is happy you named the child for her although she's got six of her own.
You say you've found work but you don't say what kind.When will you be coming home?
Kilkenny, Ireland 18 and 80, Dear Michael and John,
My sons I'm sorry to give you the very bad news that your dear old mother has gone.
We buried her down at the church in Kilkenny, your brothers and Brigid were there.
You don't have to worry, she died very quickly, remmember her in your prayers.
And it's good to hear that Michael's returning, with money he's sure to buy land.
For the crop has been poor and the people are selling - for any price that they can.
Kilkenny, Ireland 18 and 90, My dear loving son John,
I suppose that I must close on eighty, it's thirty years since you're gone.
Because of all of the money you've sent me I'm still living out in my own.
Michael has built himself a fine house and Brigid's daughters are grown.
Thank you for sending your family picture - your lovely young women and men.
You say that you might even come for a visit - What joy to see you again.
Kilkenny, Ireland 1892, My dear brother John,
I'm sorry I didn't write sooner to tell you your father passed on.
He was living with Brigid, she says he was cheerful and healthy right down to the end.
You should have seen him playing with the grandchildren, (and Pat McMurrough, your friend)
And we buried him alongside of mother down at the KIlkenny churchyard.
He was a strong and a fiesty old man considering his life was so hard.
And it's funny the way he kept talking about you, he called for you at the end.
Why don't you think about coming to visit, we'd all love to see you again.