BANTRY BAY

As I'm sitting all alone in the gloaming
It might have been but yesterday
That we watched the fisher sails all homing
Till the little herring fleet at anchor lay
Then the fisher girls with baskets swinging
Come running down the old stone way
Every lass to her sailor lad was singing
A welcome back to Bantry Bay

Then we heard the piper's sweet note tuning
And all the lassies turned to hear
As they mingled with a soft voice crooning
Till the music floated down the wooden pier
"Save you kindly colleens all" said the piper
"Hands across and trip it while I play"
And a tender sound of a song and merry dancing
Stole softly over Bantry Bay

As I'm sitting all alone in the gloaming
The shadows of the past draw near
And I see the loving faces around me
That used to glad the old brown pier
Some are gone up on their last lov'd homing
Some are left, but they are old and grey
And we're waiting for the tide in the gloaming
To sail up on the Great High-way
To the land of rest unending
All peaceful from Bantry Bay


Regards Mick Bracken