Van Morrison: “Carrickfergus”

Profoundly affecting lyrics set to a beautiful melody. The centuries-old Irish folk song was probably spared oblivion by actor Peter O’Toole, who related it to Dominic Behan in the 1950s. Behan allegedly wrote the middle verse.

“Carrickfergus” was played at the 1999 funeral of John F. Kennedy, Jr.

Lyrics as sung by Van Morrison on Irish Heartbeat, his 1988 collaboration with the Chieftains, below. “It’s not often mentioned as one of Van Morrison’s signature performances, but the highpoint of this 1988 collaboration–a heartbreaking rendition of the traditional tune “Carrickfergus”–ranks with anything the man has done. Morrison delivers the deathbed lament with a mix of fervor and penitence that’s utterly convincing as the Chieftains enshroud him in a Gaelic tapestry of sound.”–-Steven Stolder

I wish I had you in Carrickfergus, only for nights in Ballygrand.
I would swim over the deepest ocean, the deepest ocean for my love to find.
But the sea is wide and I can’t swim over and neither have I wings to fly.
Oh I wish I could find me a handy boatman to ferry me over, my love and I.

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 the melting snow.
But I’ll spend my days in endless roaming. Soft is the grass and my bed is free.
Oh to be home now, in Carrickfergus, on that long road down to the salty sea.

And in Kilkenny it is reported are marble stones as black as ink.
With gold and silver I would support her, but I’ll sing no more now till I get a drink.
I’m drunk today and I’m rarely sober, a handsome rover from town to town.
Ah, but I am sick, and my days are numbered, so come all ye young men and lay me down.