Mick.

This is not an Irish song, but a very old English song. However, I have been singing it for years here in Ireland and everyone seems to enjoy it.

THE LIFE OF A MAN (OR WOMAN)

As I was a walking one morning with ease,
Viewing the leaves as they fell from the trees.
There in full motion appearing to be,
The leaves that had withered they fell from the tree.

Chorus
What is the life of a man any more than a leaf,
A man has his seasons so why should he grieve
All through his life he'll appear fine and gay,
Like a leaf he must wither and soon fade away.

If you had seen the leaves just a few days ago,
How beautiful and bright they did all seem to grow,
A rust came upon them and withered them all,
A storm came upon them and down they did fall

Chorus

If you look in the churchyard there you will see,
Those that have withered and fallen from the tree.
When age and affliction upon us do fall
Like a leaf we must wither and then we must fall.

Chorus.

The Clancy Brothers, with Tommy Makem, sang the Parting Glass holding hands round the graveside at Paddy's funeral last year. It seemed very fitting to me.

George