A Long Way From Here

A long way from here to where the waterways meet
Near the County Cork Duhallow Town of Millstreet
But in fancy i can hear a male song thrush sing
On a tree by Finnow on an evening in Spring

For as long as i live good memories i will retain
Of what was for me but will not be again
When the old fields were decked in their wildflowers of May
And the nesting birds whistled and sang all the day

The dark barn swallows chirped as they did fly
In pursuit of flying insects in the blue and gray sky
And the familiar song of the migratory cuckoo distinctive and clear
From late Spring to late Summer quite pleasant to hear

We only have memories of the what used to be
But the now is what matters as most would agree
The clocks on our lives ever keep ticking fast
At the stroke of midnight today will be of the past

In Claraghatlea in life my first homeplace
Mine to many there today would be a stranger's face
Time that rusts iron is now telling on me
And i only have memories of the what used to be.