Sailing to Amerikay You brave Irish people wherever you be, I pray stand a moment and listen to me; Your sons and fair daughters, They are going away, And thousands are sailing to Amerikay. cho: So good luck to those people And safe may they land. They are leaving their country For a far distant strand. They are leaving old Ireland, No longer can stay, And thousands are sailing to Amerikay. The night before leaving They are bidding goodbye, And it's early next morning Their hearts give a sigh. They do kiss their mothers, And then they will say, "Goodbye, dearest father, I am now going away." Their friends and relations, And neighbours also, When the trunks they are packed up All ready to go, The tears from their eyes then Are falling like rain, And the horses are prancing Going off for the train. When they do reach the station You will hear their last cry, With handkerchiefs waving And bidding goodbye, Their hearts will be breaking When leaving the shore. So goodbye, dear old Ireland, We will ne'er see you no more. So pity the mother Who rears up the child And likewise the father Who labours and toils. To try to support them He works night and day, And when they are reared They will go away. Lyrics as performed by Andy Irvine & Dick Gaughan, reprinted in liner notes for "Folkfriends 2," FF 3003/4, 1981 RG APR99
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!