Kilkelly

Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and sixty, my dear and lovin' son John

Your good friend the Schoolmaster Pat McNamara

So good as to write these words down

Your brothers have all gone to find work in England

The house is so empty and sad

The crop of potatoes is sorely infected

A third to a half of them bad

And your sister Brigid and Patrick O'Donnell

Are going to be married in June

Your mother says not to work on the railroad

And be sure to come on home soon

Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and sixty, my dear and lovin' son John

Hello to your missus and to your four children

May they grow healthy and strong

Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble

I suppose he never will learn

Because of the dampness there's no turf to speak of

And now we have nothing to burn

And Brigid is happy, you named a child for her

Although she's got six of her own

You say you've found work

But you don't say what kind

Or when you'll be comin' home

Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and eighty, dear Michael and John my sons

I'm sorry to give you the very sad news

Your mother has gone

We buried her down at the church in Kilkelly

Your brothers and Bridget were there

You don't have to worry, she died very quickly

Remember her in your prayers

And it's so good to hear that Michael's returning with money he's sure to buy land

For the crop has been poor and the people are selling

For any price that they can

Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and ninety, my dear and lovin' son John

I suppose that I must be close on eighty

It's thirty years since you've gone

Because of all of the money you sent me

I'm still living' out of my own

Michael has built himself a fine house

And Bridget's daughters have grown

And thank you for sendin' your family picture

They're lovely young women and men

You say you might even come for a visit

What a joy to see you again

Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and ninety two, my dear brother John

I'm sorry I didn't write sooner to tell you that father has gone

He was living with Brigid, she said he was cheerful and healthy right down to the end

And you should have seen him play with the grandchildren

Of Pat McNamara your friend

And we buried him alongside of mother

Down at Kilkelly churchyard

He was a strong and a feisy old man

Considering that life is so hard

And it's funny the way he kept talkin' about you

He called for you at the end

And why don't you think about comin' to visit

We'd all love to see you again