Lyr Req: Nothing to Show for It All (Kieran Halpin

Subject: Nothing to Show
From: NicP
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 10:14 AM

Has anyone got the lyrics for Kieran Halpin's Nothing to Show (as I think it's called)? It's the song with

I've been too long away from this country
too long away from [something or the other]
Now I'm home like a war weary soldier
With nothing to show for it all

as the chorus.

Subject: Lyr Add: NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT ALL (Kieran Halpin
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Aug 02 - 09:06 PM

Here's a page where you can download an mp3 file of this song:
http://www.kieranhalpin.com/html/music/
And here's my transcription of it:
(I can't say as I really understand the last 2 verses, however.)

NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT ALL
(Kieran Halpin)

I've been too long away from your loving,
Too long with my back to the wall.
I've been to some far away places
With nothing to show for it all.

CHO: I've been too long away from this country,
Too long not heeding your call.
Now I'm home like some war-weary soldier
With nothing to show for it all.

I've been to their sights and showcases.
I've been through their strong city hall,
Men with black suits and no faces
And nothing to show for it all. CHO.

I've taken the gibe and the jester
And laughed at the joke through it all.
He said, "Get back to the place where you came from.
You've got nothing to feel (?) after all." CHO.

Breathe easy. There's someone there waiting,
Someone who cares after all.

[As sung by Kieran Halpin on "Mission Street," 1991.]

Subject: Chords Add: NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT ALL (K Halpin)
From:
Date: 07 Apr 05 - 01:30 PM

Thanks for your help on this - I think the song is about his years on the road in pursuit of whatever - fame, fortune a big recording contract. The last couple of verses are about the places he has been, the people he's been unimpressed by, the difficulty of being a rural Irishman facing the endless Paddy jokes and the rejections he has been handed. Had a go using your earlier work to arrive at the following:


G                    D                       Em
I've been too long away from your loving
C                  D        G D
Too long my back to the wall
G             D           Em
I've been to some far away places
C                D            G
With nothing to show for it all


G                    D                       Em
I've been too long away from this country
C                  D         G D
Too long not hearing your call
G             D                Em
Now I'm home like some war weary soldier
C                D            G
With nothing to show for it all

G                    D                   Em
I've been to their sights and show cases
C                         D            G   D
I've been through their strong city halls
G             D            Em
Men with black suits and no faces
C                D            G
And nothing to show for it all

G                    D                       Em
I've been too long away from this country
C                  D         G D
Too long not hearing your call
G             D                Em
Now I'm home like some war weary soldier
C                D            G
With nothing to show for it all

G                D               Em
I've taken the jibe and the jester
C                          D               G D
I've laughed at their jokes through it all

G                      D                    Em
He said get back to the place where you came from
C                      D                 G
You've got nothing to give after all


G                    D                       Em
I've been too long away from this country
C                  D         G D
Too long not hearing your call
G             D                        Em
Now I'm home like some war weary soldier
C                D               G
With nothing to show for it all

G                   D             Em
Breath easy there's someone there waiting
C          D            G
Someone who cares after all