Memorial

Lyrics and Music: Tim Dennehy

This is dedicated to Pat, my brother and friend, who lost his young battle against illness on February 17th.1968 and who shall always remain seventeen. When you are young a day is a lifetime while a night is but a brief moment.

A cold spring wind now shaves the gate as it has done since sixty-eight
I pass the closed forge now, trace my steps along the bay.
It was here we walked through summer fields and fished the streams for silver eels,
Kicked football in the garden as we teased the time away.
And we shared every moment, all our hopes and joys and torment
When we were young and careless, wild, innocent and free.
We thought we'd live forever, that we'd face each storm together
And walk the road from Bolus to Cill Rialaig by the sea.

From Kinard East to Caher town, that first move brought a tear and frown
As we parted from the small fields, we knew every one by name.
But one year restored a youthful calm as we fished the bridge, we played the band,
Defended and attacked, we fought all wars we felt no pain.
Still sharing every moment, all our hopes and joys and torment,
For we were young and careless, wild, innocent and free.
We thought we'd live forever, that we'd face each storm together
And walk the road from Quay Street to the tide at Reenrusheen.

And when Christmas sixty-seven came we hunted for that bird of fame,
The hills rang loud with laughter; song and music filled the air.
We tramped the country roads till dusk, the sweated pubs at night we busked,
We sang and played and danced and sang farewell to classroom care.
As we shared every moment all our hopes and joys and torment,
For we were young and careless, wild, innocent and free.
But little did I figure it would be our last day together
As we walked the roads from wild Túr Mór to the foot of Binn A' Tí.

For we hadn't seen the New Year in when you were visited with pain;
Your short life flashed before you, seventeen is too young to leave.
And in early spring you heard the call that one day does await us all,
It called you to the Golden Hall as we were left to grieve.
And I thought of every moment when we shared all joy and torment
And when we were young and careless, wild, innocent and free.
We thought we'd live forever, that we'd face each storm together
And trace the sacred Songlines from the mountain to the sea.

The wind once more it shaves the gate as it has done since sixty-eight,
My mind is in the forge again; my steps they trace the bay.
I walk again through summer fields and I cast the stream for silver eels,
I hear again your footfall on the pathway of each day.
May our thoughts be never severed, may we journey on forever,
May the waters of the Fertha take you gently to the sea
And sometimes when the darkness creeps and shawls each fragrant flower,
I reach for you across the stars; we're young again and free.
May we hold hands across the stars for all eternity.