Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and sixty,
My dear and loving son John;
Your good friend the Schoolmaster, Pat McNamara’s,
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 affected,
A third to half of them bad.
And your sister Bridget and Patrick O'Donnell,
Are gonna get married in June;
And your mother says not to work on the railroad,
And be sure to come on home soon.
Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and seventy,
Dear and loving 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 guess that he never will learn.
Because of the dampness there's no turf to speak of
And now there’s nothing to burn.
And Bridget is happy you named the child for her;
You know she's got six of her own.
You say you've found work, but you don't say what kind;
Oh, when will you be comin' home?
Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and eighty,
Dear Michael and John my sons;
I'm sorry to give you the very sad news
That your dear old mother passed on.
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,
At any price that they can.
Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and ninety,
My dear and loving son John;
I guess that I must be close on to eighty;
It's thirty years since you've gone.
Because of all the money you sent me,
I'm still living out on my own.
Michael has built himself a fine house,
And Bridget's daughters are grown.
And thank you for sending your family picture,
They're lovely young women and men.
You say that you might even come for a visit,
What joy to see you again.
Instrumental
Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and ninety two,
My dear brother John;
I'm sorry that I didn't write sooner,
To tell you that father passed on.
He was living with Bridget;
She says he was cheerful
And healthy right down to the end.
You should have seen him playing 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 feisty old man,
Considering his life was so hard.
And it's funny the way he kept talking about you,
He called for you at the end.
Oh, why don't you think about coming to visit,
We'd love to see you again.
credits
from Like the Willow Tree 1994,
released April 9, 1994
Aubrey Atwater: vocals, guitar, tin whistle
Elwood Donnelly: vocals, whisper
Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly, present delightful programs of traditional American and Celtic folk songs, a capella
pieces, old-time gospel songs, dance tunes, and original works, blending gorgeous harmonies with guitar, Appalachian mountain dulcimer, mandolin, tin whistle, harmonica, banjo, bones, spoons, limberjacks, and Appalachian clog dancing and French Canadian footwork....more
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