Kilkelly (Listen to midi)

Em G D Em

1. Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 60, my dear and loving son John,

G

your good friend, the schoolmaster Pat McNamara's

D Em

so good as to write these words down.

G D

Your brothers have all gone to find work in England,

C D - B7

the house is so empty and sad,

Em G

the crop of potatoes is sorely infected,

D Em

a third to a half of them bad.

G D

And your sister Brigid and Patrick O'Donnell

C D - B7

are going to be married in June.

Em G

Your mother says not to work on the railroad,

D Em

and be sure to come on home soon.

Em G D Em

2. Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 70, my dear and loving son John,

G

hello to your Mrs and to your 4 children,

D Em

may they grow healthy and strong.

G D

Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble,

C D - B7

I suppose that he never will learn.

Em G

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

D Em

and now we have nothing to burn.

G D

And Brigid is happy, you named a child for her,

C D - B7

although she's got six of her own.

Em G

You say you found work, but you don't say what kind,

D Em

or when you will be coming home.

Em G D Em

3. Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 80, dear Michael and John, my sons,

G

I'm sorry to give you the very sad news

D Em

that your dear old mother has gone.

G D

We buried her down at the church in Kilkelly,

C D - B7

your brothers and Brigid were there.

Em G

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

D Em

remember her in your prayers.

G D

And it's so good to hear that Michael's returning,

C D - B7

with money he's sure to buy land

Em G

For the crop has been poor and the people are selling
D Em

at any price that they can.

Em G D Em

4. Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 90, my dear and loving son John,

G

I suppose that I must be close on to eighty,

D Em

it's thirty years since you're gone.

G D

Because of all of the money you send me,

C D - B7

I'm still living out on my own.

Em G

Michael has built himself a fine house,

D Em

and Brigid's daughters have grown.

G D

Thank you for sending your family picture,

C D - B7

they're lovely young women and men.

Em G

You say that you might even come for a visit,

D Em

what joy to see you again.

Em G D Em

5. Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 92, my dear brother John,

G

I'm sorry that I didn't write sooner

- D Em

to tell you that father passed on.

G D

He was living with Brigid, she says he was cheerful

C D - B7

and healthy right down to the end.

Em G

Ah, you should have seen him play with the grandchildren

D Em

of Pat McNamara, your friend.

G D

And we buried him alongside of mother,

C D - B7

down at the Kilkelly churchyard.

Em G

He was a strong and a feisty old man,

D Em

considering his life was so hard.

G D

And it's funny the way he kept talking about you,

C D - B7

calling for you in the end.

Em G

Oh, why don't you think about coming to visit,

D Em

we'd all love to see you again.

(The Dubliners)