The Kerry Dance lyrics

Oh, the days of the Kerry dancing

Oh, the ring of the piper's tune

Oh, for one of those hours of gladness

Gone, alas, like our youth, too soon!

When the boys began to gather

In the glen of a summer night

And the Kerry piper's tuning

Made us long with wild delight!

Oh, to think of it

Oh, to dream of it

Fills my heart with tears!

Oh, the days of the Kerry dancing

Oh, the ring of the piper's tune

Oh, for one of those hours of gladness

Gone, alas, like our youth, too soon!

Was there ever a sweeter Colleen

In the dance than Eily More

Or a prouder lad than Thady

As he boldly took the floor.

Lads and lasses to your places

Up the middle and down again

And the merry hearted laughter

Ringing through the happy glen!

Oh, to think of it

Oh, to dream of it

Fills my heart with tears!

Oh, the days of the Kerry dancing

Oh, the ring of the piper's tune

Oh, for one of those hours of gladness

Gone, alas, like our youth, too soon!

Time goes on, and the happy years are dead

And one by one the merry hearts are fled

Silent now is the wild and lonely glen

Where the bright glad laugh will echo ne'er again

Only dreaming of days gone by in my heart I hear.

Loving voices of old companions

Stealing out of the past once more

And the sound of the dear old music

Soft and sweet as in days of yore.

When the boys began to gather

In the glen of a summer night

And the Kerry piper's tuning

Made us long with wild delight!

Oh, to think of it

Oh, to dream of it

Fills my heart with tears!

Oh, the days of the Kerry dancing

Oh, the ring of the piper's tune

Oh, for one of those hours of gladness

Gone, alas, like our youth, too soon!

• Artist:John McCormack