Carrighfergus I wish I was in Carrighfergus Only for nights in Ballygrant I would swim over the deepest ocean, The deepest ocean to be by your side. But the sea is wide and I can't swim over And neither have I wings to fly If I could find me a handsome boatsman To carry me over to my love and die
My childhood days bring back sad reflections Of happy times I spent so long ago, My boyhood friends and my own relations Have all passed on now like melting snow. But I'll spend my days in endless roaming, Soft is the grass, my bed is free. Ah, to be back now in Carrighfergus, On that long road down to the sea.
Chorus: But the sea is wide and I can't swim over And neither have I wings to fly If I could find me a handsome boatsman To carry me over to my love and die
But in Kilkenny, it is reported, On marble stones there, as black as ink. With gold and silver I did transport her But I'll say no more now 'til I get a drink. For I'm drunk today, but then I'm seldom sober A handsome rover from town to town Ah, but I am sick now, my days are over Come all you young men and lay me down.