They opened up a new station, just before St. Patrick's Day
The councillors and all of the gentry came to get it safe underway
There was Bertie and all of the people, united in their great joy
Him dishing out lots of free hankies, for waving your loved-ones goodbye, goodbye
For waving your loved-ones goodbye
All the coaches were polished and shining, and the station right spick and span
No graffiti and none of your rubbish, and no empty Dutch Gold cans
In East Wall they had out the buntings, in the North Wall they flew the flag
And builders looked on contented, the next nixer was safe in the bag, the bag
Next nixer was safe in the bag
The Docklands are open at last, to travellers up from the west
And a feeder from O'Connell Street, to link it all up with the rest
Amid all of the commotion, an old man he caught my eye
Sitting there all on his own-i-o, I thought he was going to cry, to cry
I thought he was going to cry
There he sat on a bench reclining, now grinning from ear to ear
Saying "I haven’t been out of the city, in all of my many long years"
I was gob-smacked into a silence, when I heard this gentleman’s tale
Over three quarts of a centaury, and never once beyond The Pale, The Pale
Never once beyond The Pale
"I've waited so long" he said wisely "I'm going to be taking my time,
So I'm holding out for warm weather, for a day when the sun it will shine."
"It’s then that I'm going to travel, to the midlands and to the west
Though I hope I don't get too wheezy, without any sea air on my chest, my chest
Without any sea air on my chest!”
“And it won't cost me a penny, and I can stop off for a drink
In some far flung country tavern, a place I can sit down and think"
"And It’s there I’ll rest and I’ll ponder, all seventy seven years
And all of its ups and its downs, the laughter and even the tears, the tears
The laughter and even the tears
And then I shall rise up right slowly, at about half past two or past three
And I shall head home contented, to my home down by Anna Liffey"
I bade him good luck and we parted, and it filled up my heart with great joy
When he took out a hankie from Bertie, and merrily waved me goodbye, goodbye
Merrily waved me goodbye
Sometimes I reflect upon Paddy, why he never left town at all
I suppose he’s seen all that he wanted, between Pigeon House and Bull Wall
I wish him well on his adventures; I hope they do not disappoint
And he be returned to us safely, to his little home down near the Point, the Point
His little home down near the Point