One day I sat my mother down Said I’m leavin’ home She always knew this day would come She’d be on her own This town’s too small I need some time To see what I may see She looked up ‒ held back the tears This she said to me
Go on my son ‒ take the chance ‒ seek and you will find The grass is always greener, they say, on the other side Irish boys for centuries now have left for a better hand But they’ll always be the sons of Ireland And son ‒ you are a son of Ireland
Years have past ‒ there I’ll be A wise and traveled man My son will come to wish me well Tell me of his plans Father dear I love you well But the world I got to see I’ll smile at him and say the word My Mom had said to me
Go on my son ‒ take the chance ‒ seek and you will find The grass is always greener, they say, on the other side Irish boys for centuries now have left for a better hand But they’ll always be the sons of Ireland And son ‒ you are a son of Ireland