Lyrics of many of Seán Brady's recordings from 1983-2023

In the twilight of an evening
When my working day is done
I listen to the bluebird sing
As I watch the setting sun

Then you settle by my side
And you place your hand in mine
We share a loving kiss
We talk and reminisce
About all of our yesterdays

Chorus:

All of our yesterdays
All of our yesterdays
Mem’ries of long ago
Where did they ever go
Where are all of our yesterdays

And as our tomorrows come
As sure as the rising sun
I’ll love you just the same
As when you took my name
Back in all of our yesterdays

At the dawning of another day
I hold you tenderly
Like Juliet for Romeo
You’re the only one for me

Together since way back when
And we’d do it all again
My love will never end
My lover my best friend
Just like all of our yesterdays

Chorus:

All of our yesterdays
All of our yesterdays
Mem’ries of long ago
Where did they ever go
Where are all of our yesterdays

And as our tomorrows come
As sure as the rising sun
I’ll love you just the same
As when you took my name
Back in all of our yesterdays

I’ll love you just the same
As when you took my name

Back in all of our yesterdays

My pockets are all empty there’s thunder in my head
It’s twenty past eleven and I should be out of bed
I should be on the site but I was out last night
I’m going to give up drinking for the hundredth thousandth time

Sometimes when I go boozing I never stop to think
It helps me put my cares away when I go on the drink
But when it comes next morning and you’re lying in your bed
It feels like someone’s put an atom bomb inside your head

Chorus:

And I get the Arthur Guinness Blues
I can’t find my trousers nor my shoes
My pockets are all empty and I’m late for work again
Today I’ll make a promise to give up drink again

I used to be a pioneer and I never touched a drop
But one day I took a sup and now I never stop
My wife she’s like a dragon she never stops her naggin’
So it’s off down to the local I’m no more on the wagon

Now some men like their lager and others like their scotch
But I like pints and pints of stout and I drink it quite a lot
You can keep your fancy wines and your fancy German beers
‘Cos I like pints of porter ’til it comes out of my ears

Repeat chorus and end

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You and I will never be together again
You and I won’t ever be together again

I thought you were the one for me
To turn my nightmare into a dream
Make all the bad things good
Make my life the way it should be
Well that’s where it began
And once again it’s ending
Cos’ you and I will never be together again

You were a lonely girl in a lonely city
Sitting there looking oh so pretty
That’s where it began
There’s no use pretending
Oh you and I will never be together again
It’s the circle never ending circle of love

You and I will never be together again
Oh you and I won’t ever be together again

I Thought I was the one for you
To make all your dreams come true
Make all your bad things good
Make your life the way it should be
Well that’s where it began
And this is never ending
And you and I will never be together again

Now I’m a lonely man in a lonely city
Drowning here in sea of self pity
That’s where it began
It seems never ending
Oh you and I will never be together again

We couldn’t quite make it work together
This search for love seems to last forever
That’s where we began
A journey without ending
And you and I will never be together again

It’s a circle never ending circle of love
Oh it’s the circle never ending circle of love
It’s a circle never ending circle of love

Never ending circle of love
Never ending circle of love
Never ending circle of love
Never ending circle of love
Never ending circle of love

My name is Desperate Dan and I am the ganger man
I’m Desperate Dan the ruthless ganger man

Now each morning I clock on and I put my wellies on
I’m a king for the rest of the working day
And I’ll make you dig that hole
Or you’re going on the dole
Says Desperate Dan the ruthless ganger man

Now I don’t care a toss and I love to please my boss
I hire and I fire all the time
And if you don’t pull your weight
It’s the dole queue for you mate
You’d better watch your stepping out of line

Well his name is Desperate Dan and he is the ganger man
He’s Desperate Dan the ruthless ganger man

Now I’m only five feet tall but I feel like six feet four
And how I love to give someone the sack
And if your work is slack
Then I’ll stab you in the back
I feel like God ‘cos I’m the ganger man

Now I like to act quite flash
And I’m never short of cash
I do a bit of fiddling on the side
And the boss he thinks I’m great
And I crawl just like a snake
I’m Desperate Dan the ruthless ganger man

His name is Desperate Dan and he is the ganger man
Look out for Desperate Dan the ganger man
Avoid him like the plague boys if you can
A curse on Desperate Dan the ganger man

Available on THE THATCHER SONG CD via the SHOP

I remember the day De Valera he died
my father he just broke down and he cried
he wept like a baby for Dev was his pride
but it held me no fears and I shed no tears
for this man of our times

They say Dev was a hero at Easter ’16
he held Boland’s mill for the orange and green
he was sentenced to die with Pearse and McBride
but his birth far away let him fight another day
lucky man of our times

Chorus:

He was loved he was hated he was cherished despised
there were rivers of tears when the Chieftain he died
but love him or hate him I cannot decide
what to make of old Dev this man of our times

When I was at school Christian brothers were cruel
we lived off the land to be scarce was the rule
and we fled in our droves to the Emigrants boat
we weren’t free yet and we questioned respect
for this man of our times

My parents were poor and the cupboard was bare
you can’t feed a child on a dream or a prayer
but the boys in Dail Eireann got rich as we pined
they were led by the chief and we had no relief
from this man of our times

Chorus:

He was loved he was hated he was cherished despised
there were rivers of tears when the Chieftain he died
but love him or hate him I cannot decide
what to make of old Dev this man of our times

Now Spain had its Franco and France its Degaulle
we had our Dev and God rest his soul
but history will judge on the man from Bruree
De Valera’s lost dream our Nation unfree
it’s the shame of our times

I remember the day De Valera he died
my father he just broke down and he cried
he wept like a baby for Dev was his pride
but it held me no fears and I shed no tears
for this man of our times

Available on THE THATCHER SONG CD via the SHOP

In nineteen fifty two begins a tale I’ll tell to you
From Drumshanbo off to London I was bound
Said goodbye to Leitrim’s plains
joined on board an eastbound train
saw no use to stay in poverty’s domain
Mother cried a hundred tears for her lad of nineteen years
And my father sisters brothers bade me well

As I left Dun Laighoire pier I was filled with lonesome fear
What awaits this poor young Paddy O’er the waves
With the sum of seven pounds I arrived in Camden town
Found some digs and joined with Murphy’s volunteers
Well it didn’t seem so bad sent some shillings to me dad
And at first it seemed to be a home from home

When on Fridays wages came Camden Town had hell to pay
As the lads and me we’d drink ourselves insane
I took to drinking hard played the bookies and the cards
And the money home it soon was hard to find
Oh the years passed swiftly by and between yourself and I
I grew lonesome for Drumshanbo’s plains and glens

At the Banba and Galtymore lovely women by the score
But somehow I never found myself a wife
The craic was pretty good in Camden Town and Cricklewood
And old Kilburns smokey bars I knew them well
In the Memphis Belle some nights or Biddy Mulligan’s by the lights
Or a Rebel song or two in the Old Bell

In my lodgings now I’ll rest and on days gone by reflect
On my wasted years and where do I belong
Mother Father passed away sisters brothers in their graves
Old Drumshanbo seems a million miles away
Now I’m half a century old this old Paddy’s on the dole
I’ve no wife nor family to share my pain

So tonight for old times sake on the razzle I’ll engage
To the Windsor & the Edinburgh I’ll roam
And tonight in Camden Town many sorrows I will drown
Lovely Leitrim on the jukebox I will play
So to all of Irelands youth spare a while for Gods own truth
There is nothing here but loneliness and tears

So to all of Irelands youth spare a while for Gods own truth
There is nothing here but loneliness and tears

Available on THE THATCHER SONG CD via the SHOP

(AKA Our Love Cannot Be)

Oh tonight I will lay with my loved one
Oh tonight I will lay with my dear
And tonight as I sleep with that someone
I will hold her sweet body so near

Forbidden fruit it tastes sweet and it tastes bitter
When the one that you love you can’t have
Cos’ she’s promised herself to another
With that gold wedding band on her hand

Wish to god that I never had met her
Wish to god she was single and free
All that’s left are the slow dying embers
Of a love that just never could be

Forbidden fruit it tastes sweet and its tastes bitter
When the one that you love you can’t have
Cos’ she’s promised herself to another
With that gold wedding band on her hand

So no more will I lay with my loved one
Oh no more will she be my side
All alone I must face my tomorrows
With a dream that has withered and died

Forbidden fruit it tastes sweet and its tastes bitter
When the one that you love you can’t have
Cos’ she’s promised herself to another
With that gold wedding band on her hand

Cos’ she’s promised herself to another
With that gold wedding band on her hand

King Alcohol you took me high
You were the wings that made me fly
You were the centre of my world my guiding star
We had big plans oh we’d go far

With you beside me I could touch the sky
And dream big dreams like a carefree butterfly
The perfect team just you and I

Until one day my world came tumbling down
Upon my bended knees I fell down to the ground and I cried
I’m so sick and tired of being sick and tired

King alcohol you tortured me
You brought me nothing but pain and misery
You stole my soul with your evil twisted lies
My hopes and dreams you crucified

By now I’m walking through the promised land
The man upstairs has saved this one time broken man
I’ve got new wings to make me fly

King alcohol you never were my friend
I thought my love for you would never never end until I-I-I
Grew sick and tired of being sick and tired,

I got sick and tired of being sick and tired,
Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?
So sick and tired of being sick and tired.

As I travel the road of life
It’s full of trouble and it’s full of strife
Sometimes this highway’s just a trail of sorrow
But when I change my attitude
To one of hope and gratitude
I get a brighter day and a whole brand new tomorrow

So I dry those dry those tears and I lose that frown
There’s no upside in me looking down
Or wasting all my precious time complaining
I’ll ignore my mind when it’s telling lies
See this world through brighter eyes
I’m changing things in me cos I need changing

Nothing changes if nothing changes
The way I think needs a whole lot of rearranging
My misery is optional
There’s nothing gained in me being blue
Nothing changes if nothing’s changing

When that light at the tunnels end
Seems like the lights of the coming train
An optimistic view can be amazing
I’m learning how to ride that storm
The sky is dark before the dawn
There’s nothing gonna change if I’m not changing

I’m done with being negative
I found a better way to live
Goodbye to all my misery and whining
So farewell negativity
And hello positivity
In each cloud gonna find a silver lining

Nothing changes if nothing changes
The way I think needs a whole lot of rearranging
My misery is optional
There’s nothing gained in me being blue
Nothing changes if nothing’s changing

Nothing changes if nothing changes
There aint no rainbows if it aint be raining
I’m worn out being miserable
And being so self pitiful
Nothing changes if nothing’s changing

Nothing changes if nothing changes
A happy frame of mind is worth sustaining
My misery is optional
There’s nothing gained in me being blue
Nothing changes if nothing’s changing

We’re on our way with Jackie’s army
We’re on our way to victory
This time look out for Jackie’s troops
We’re going all the way
We’re gonna win the world cup for Ireland
In the good old USA

All across the Irish nation
World cup fever sweeps the land
You’ll hear them shout ‘up Jackie’
In every house in Ireland
Battalions they are gathering
In thousands for to roam
To the green fields of Amerikay
To bring the world cup home

We’re on our way with Jackie’s army
We’re on our way to victory
This time look out for Jackie’s troops
We’re going all the way
We’re gonna win the world cup for Ireland
In the good old USA

There’ll be a sea of emerald banners
When the boys in green appear
And the troops of Jackie’s army
They will travel anywhere
From Spain to Lithuania
Our soldiers they will roam
We’ll be the toast of the Irish nation
When we bring the world cup home

We’re on our way with Jackie’s army
We’re on our way to victory
This time look out for Jackie’s troops
We’re going all the way
We’re gonna win the world cup for Ireland
In the good old USA

We’re on our way with Jackie’s army
We’re on our way to victory
This time look out for Jackie’s troops
We’re going all the way
We’re gonna win the world cup for Ireland
In the good old USA

We’re on our way with Jackie’s army
We’re on our way to victory
This time look out for Jackie’s troops
We’re going all the way
We’re gonna win the world cup for Ireland
In the good old USA

Repeat til fade

A young girl headed out to the station
For a train that would speed her away
Across the water to the unknown in London
With her head bowed and covered in shame
Her parents could abide her no longer
So afraid what the neighbours might say
For a child it was growing inside her
With no husband to promise his name

Chorus:

Now the jewel of the village is gone
Far away full of shame all alone
Banished by the ones who claimed to love her
Forsaken by the holy ones
Who preach with hearts of stone

When that train pulled into Euston station
She waited but nobody came
No one to turn to no friends nor relations
Through her tears oh God help me she prayed

In no time she fell by the wayside
But the Angels just took her away
Cos’ she died in a backstreet in London
For the few pounds that man made her pay

Repeat Chorus twice:

Who preach with hearts of stone
Who preach with hearts of stone
Who preach with hearts of stone

Excuse me Mrs T would you ever marry me
I love you like an ass is fond of clover
Would you ever leave oul’ Denis
And to Ireland travel over
From tales I’ve heard your old mans rarely sober

Chorus:

I’ve a fine big pair of bullocks
and a lovely cock of hens
If you saw me gander well your eyes would water
I could learn you how to gig
And teach you how to muck a pig
Oh Mrs T I love you more each day

Will you listen Mrs T well it’s plain for all to see
That old Garret thinks you are a bonny lass
But you’ll surely be mistaken
If for him you’re calculating
Sure he doesn’t know his donkey from his ass

Chorus:

I’ve a fine big pair of bullocks
and a lovely cock of hens
If you saw me gander well your eyes would water
I could learn you how to gig
And teach you how to muck a pig
Oh Mrs T I love you more each day

NOw excuse me Mrs T but I’m trembling at the knees
And I’m wondering if you’ll ever be my bride
In my big four poster bed
Will you ever lay your head
Shall I ever see your wellies next to mine

Chorus:

I’ve a fine big pair of bullocks
and a lovely cock of hens
If you saw me gander well your eyes would water
I could learn you how to gig
And teach you how to muck a pig
Oh Mrs T I love you more each day

Save and guard us Mrs T it’s frustrating can’t you see
I’m a farmer and a man with many needs
And I’ll give all my manure
If with me you would endure
For to spend your days with me in old Adare

Chorus:

I’ve a fine big pair of bullocks
and a lovely cock of hens
If you saw me gander well your eyes would water
I could learn you how to gig
And teach you how to muck a pig
Oh Mrs T I love you more each day

Available on THE THATCHER SONG CD via the SHOP

Michael’s making his way down the Edgware road tonight
With his bags and ragged clothes he’s not a pretty sight
Just another bleak day in the rest of his life
With no fixed abode as he carries his weary load
And Michael do they want you anymore

Michael he’s a man, travelled the world in a uniform
You name it he’s been there from Dunkirk over to Alamein
And his eldest brother died beside the river Kwai
Michael paid his price and now he makes it twice
And Michael do they need you anymore

Chorus:

And the butterflies inside will drown with the tide
Of the cider the meths and the wine

Michael answered the call
when the clouds billowed for Hitler’s war
It wasn’t Michael’s war but a jobs a job you know the score
And thousand’s fought and died in many foreign lands
But who gives a damn for a dead Irishman
And Michael they don’t want you anymore

Michael has a son in Toronto off in Canada
And his daughter wed a man away in southern Africa
And the woman he once loved don’t love him no more
She just walked away things happen that way
And Michael they don’t want you anymore

Chorus:

And the butterflies inside will drown with the tide
Of the cider the meths and the wine
And Michael they don’t need you anymore

Available on THE THATCHER SONG CD via the SHOP

Well me giro came this morning I was happy as could be
I get me giro once a week from the social security
This country is so giving this beats working for a living
Three cheers Mother England for me giro

Chorus:

Thank you mother England for me giro
I live the life of Reilly with me giro
So fair play to ya Maggie for helping poor old Paddy
Thank you Mother England for me giro

Now I’m working on the buildings with me wages cash in hand
And sod the inland revenue I just don’t give a damn
Me giro gives me lolly and it makes me life so jolly
God bless Mother England for me giro’s

Chorus:

Ah thank you Mother England for me giro
I’ve got the best of both worlds with me giro
They give me loads of money in this land of milk and honey
God bless Mother England for her giro’s

I go down to the social ev’ry tuesday to sign on
And I dress up like a nacker with me smelly wellies on
Then I get back to me lodgings and I dress up to the nines
And I hit the Kilburn high road with me giro

Chorus:

It’s great crack here in England with me giro
It’s such a good old country with its giro’s
So three cheers to you Maggie for helping poor old Paddy
God bless Mother England and her giro’s
This country is so giving this beats working for a living
Thank you Mother England for me giro

Available on THE THATCHER SONG CD via the SHOP

I remember when I saw you for the first time
Your beautiful dark hair and those brown eyes
And though time may dim the pain
Just sometimes now and then
I remember you still I think of you my first love

Chorus

I remember you more than any other lover
your place cannot be taken by another
and I remember you I’ll remember you
my first love

Just being by your side it felt like heaven
I never thought goodbye would ever happen
But young love it is blind
Has no wisdom of goodbyes
And I remember you still I dream of you
My first love

Chorus

I remember you more than any other lover
your place cannot be taken by another
and I remember you I’ll remember you
my first love

Sometimes at night in arms of a new found lover
I think of where you are and then discover
that no matter how try
though the years have travelled by
I remember you still I yearn for you
My first love

Chorus

I remember you more than any other lover
your place cannot be taken by another
and I remember you I’ll remember you
my first love

I remember you more than any other lover
your place cannot be taken by another
and I remember you I’ll remember you
my first love

I was crossing the bridge in Athlone
Feeling sad I was alone
When I saw you on the other side
With another lover by your side

And my heart it just died
And my heart it just died
My heart it just died
It just broke down and cried
My heart it just died

Just to know he’s loving you
Just the way I used to do
Makes me feel like I’m dying inside
I can run but I can never hide

Cos my heart it just died
Oh my heart it just died
My heart it just died
It just broke down and cried
My heart it just died

It’s so hard to live with the pain
Of never holding you again
It’s so hard knowing what to do
Is he really making love to you

Oh my heart it is dying
Yes my heart it is dying
My heart it is dying
And I can’t stop crying
Cos my heart it is dying

I was crossing the bridge in Athlone
Feeling sad I was alone
When I saw you on the other side
With another lover by your side

And my heart it just died
Oh my heart it just died
My heart it just died
It just broke down and cried
My heart it just died

Oh my heart it is dying
I can’t stop crying
My heart is just dying
Can’t stop crying
Cos my heart is just dying

Honey you look so good today
I love you a thousand ways
It’s our golden wedding day
You’re never too old to love

Now we’re in our twilight years
We’ve laughed and we’ve shed our tears
The future we do not fear
You’re never too old to love

They say good things have to pass
That true love can never pass
But darling we’ve proved them wrong
You’re never too old to love

Chorus:

You’re never too old to love
Love and age they go hand in glove
Though your hair is silvery grey
The wrinkles cannot betray
You’re never too old to love

I’ve loved you through all the days
It matters not what they say
I guess we’re two of a kind
You’re never too old to love

Once when you and I we were young
And loves song was sweetly sung
The sands of time passed us by
You’re never too old to love

Repeat chorus and end

Available on THE THATCHER SONG CD via the SHOP

Honey you look so good today
I love you a thousand ways
It’s our golden wedding day
You’re never too old to love

Now we’re in our twilight years
We’ve laughed and we’ve shed our tears
The future we do not fear
You’re never too old to love

Chorus

You’re never too old to love
It’s still you that I’m dreaming of
When you put your lips to mine
It feels like the first time
Remember when we were young
and loves song was sweetly sung
Now it seems like we’ve just begun
You’re never too old to love

They say good things have to pass
That true love can never last
But darling we’ve proved them wrong
You’re never too old to love

So here on this special day
We’ll dream of our yesterdays
We’ll dance and we’ll celebrate
You’re never too old to love

Chorus

You’re never too old to love
It’s still you that I’m dreaming of
When you put your lips to mine
It feels like the first time
Remember when we were young
and loves song was sweetly sung
Now it seems like we’ve just begun
You’re never too old to love