In Millstreet Long Ago

In religious processions years ago in the Town of Millstreet
The young girls of the convent school kissed and threw rose petals on the street
That they carried in reed baskets as they walked to the Town Square
Where Willie Murphy on the loudspeaker led the congregation in prayer

So beautiful young and innocent in their white communion dresses they looked immaculate
As they carried in tradition devotion to their parents and ancestral faith
Between prayers on the loudspeaker the christian hymns carried in the breeze in the streets of Millstreet Town
Back when i was a younger man and my hair was dark brown

The priests and nuns who led the processions back then at peace forever lay
I wonder do they still have religious processions in Millstreet Town today?
For time brings with it changes and few things stay the same
And eventually even memory becomes a flickering flame

In their white communion dresses young  and beautiful and free of conceit
They kissed rose petals from their baskets and tossed them on the street
As they walked up to the Town Square in Millstreet long ago
To the young school girls of the sixties time has become a foe.