Carrickfergus Lyrics - Loudon Wainwright Iii

I wish I was in Carrickfergus, 

only for nights in Ballygrand. 

I would swim over the deepest ocean, 

the deepest ocean for my love to find, 

But the sea is wide and I cannot swim over 

and neither have I wings to fly. 

If I could find me a handsome boatman 

to ferry me over to my love and die. 

My childhood days bring back sad reflections 

of happy times I spent so long ago. 

My boyhood friends and my own relations 

have all passed on now like melting snow, 

But I'll spend my days in endless roaming; 

soft is the grass, my bed is free. 

Ah, to be back in Carrickfergus 

on that long road down to the sea! 

And in Kilkenny it is reported 

there are marble stones as black as ink. 

With gold and silver I would support her, 

but I'll sing no more now till I get a drink. 

I'm drunk today and I'm seldom sober, 

a handsome rover from town to town. 

Ah, but I'm sick now, my days are numbered, 

so come all ye young men and lay me down.