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I wish I had you in Carrickfergus,
But the sea is wide and I can't swim over
My childhood days bring back sad reflections
So I'll spend my days in endless roving,
And in Kilkenny it is reported
I'm drunk today and I'm rarely sober,
Traditional song
only for one night in Ballygran,
I would swim over the deepest ocean,
the deepest ocean to be by your side.
and neither have I wings to fly,
I wish I could find me a handy boatman
to ferry me over to my love and die.
to happy times spent so long ago.
My boyhood friends and my own relations,
have all passed on like the melting snow.
soft is the grass and my bed is free.
Oh to be home now in Carrickfergus,
on the long road down to the salty sea.
on marble stone there as black as ink,
with gold and silver I did support her
but I'll sing no more now 'till I get a drink.
a handsome rover from town to town.
Oh but I'm sick now and my days are numbered
come all ye young men and lay me down.
This song sung by Van Morrison and backed by The Chieftains
is available on the album "Irish Heartbeat"
published by Essential Music/Polygram Music Publishing Ltd./Chrysalis Music Ltd