
Walls Weep in Donegal
Updated: Apr 18
copyright 2020 dalekiddlyrics.com
I came out here
to find me some work
There was nothing to eat
back home in Cork
Straight off the boat
they gave me a pick
I bit my tongue when
they yelled Dirty Mick
My work was honest
like I thought it should
Forgot the old sod
as much as I could
I saved when able
for my return
To be with my lass
where home fires burn
Here, tonight, by Feneuil Hall
hard as I try, I cannot sleep
Back home, right now, in Donegal
hearts do cry and walls do weep
My arms were strong
and my spirit true
In terrible times
you die or pull through
Shifts were long
and the winter cold
And wages much less
than I’d been told
So I found a way
to earn ca-ching
I fought for money
in the boxing ring
Sure's a tough way
to earn a dollar
But options are few
when you’re no scholar
Things improved
until it arrived
The telegram said:
“Your parents have died!”
Here, tonight, by Feneuil Hall
hard as I try, I cannot sleep
Back home, right now, in Donegal
hearts do cry and walls do weep
My body sagged
and sadness grew
But in terrible times
you die or pull through
The nights were long
in the summer heat
Weekend warriors
were harder to beat
I pushed ahead
as best I could
To hold dear Shannon
in my arms for good
I proposed by mail
in early spring
Her swift reply
was a wonderful thing
But one dark morn
a cablegram came
Shannon had passed
smallpox was to blame!
Here, tonight, by Feneuil Hall
hard as I try, I cannot sleep
Back home, right now, in Donegal
hearts do cry and walls do weep
My love was gone
so what could I do
But in terrible times
you die or pull through
My sister wrote
she’d be on a ship
Just built in Belfast
and fully equipped
I fixed up my place
for her arrival
Found a maid’s job
for her survival
But on her way
great tragedy struck
The mighty Titanic
sank like a rock
Here, tonight, by Feneuil Hall
hard as I try, I cannot sleep
Back home, right now, in Donegal
hearts do cry and walls do weep
My heart was numb
my spirit too
But in terrible times
you die or pull through
I helped bootleggers
move bathtub gin
Protecting O’Toole-
Kennedy kin
While escaping a raid
Paddy shot a cop
But I got cuffed
so I took the drop
Cath’lics could die
in a Boston jail
So I was relieved
when the boss paid bail
Here, tonight, by Feneuil Hall
hard as I try, I cannot sleep
Back home, right now, in Donegal
hearts do cry and walls do weep
My heart was weak
much older too
But in terrible times
you die or pull through
I longed to visit
my Em’rald Isle
To feel the warmth
of an Irish smile
So I packed my case
and took my cane
But I never did
see Ireland again
My heart gave out
that sunny morn
An ocean 'way
from where I was born
Here, tonight, by Feneuil Hall
hard as I try, I cannot sleep
Back home, right now, in Donegal
hearts do cry and walls do weep
Though life was cruel
regrets were few
‘Cause in terrible times
you die or pull through
In terrible times
if you do pull through
No sense to dwell
on what-ifs for you
And when walls weep
and hearts cry
Fruits of all troubles
live on by and by
Here, tonight, by Feneuil Hall
hard as I try, I cannot sleep
Back home, right now, in Donegal
hearts do cry and walls do weep
