Martin Byrne

MY HEART IS SADDENED AND HEAVY

A TEARDROP FALLS FROM MY EYE

FOR THE LOSS OF AN IRISH FOLK HERO

WHOSE MUSIC BROUGHT JOY TO OUR LIVES

HE WAS A TALL MAN AND BROAD AT THE SHOULDER

WITH A WARMTH IN HIS VOICE AS HE WELCOMED YOU IN

WE ALL WAITED WITH GREAT EXPECTATION

UNTIL THE LIGHTS WENT DOWN AND THE SHOW WOULD BEGIN

THERE WAS HUSH WHEN YOU SANG GENTLE ANNIE

AND THE CHORUS RANG OUT FROM AFAR

FOUR GREEN FIELDS WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER

TOMMY MAKEM THE BARD OF ARMAGH

YOU JOURNIED ACROSS THE ATLANTIC

AN EMIGRANT IN SEARCH OF A NAME

WHEN YOU JOINED WITH THE BOLD CLANCY BROTHERS

YOU WERE DESTINED FOR FORTUNE AND FAME

SOON THE WHOLE WORLD STARTED TO LISTEN

TO YOUR LEGENDARY STORIES AND RHYMES

YOU CARRIED ON THE GREAT CELTIC TRADITION

OF SAGES AND POETS OF OUR TIMES

THERE WAS HUSH WHEN YOU SANG GENTLE ANNIE

AND THE CHORUS RANG OUT FROM AFAR

FOUR GREEN FIELDS WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER

TOMMY MAKEM THE BARD OF ARMAGH

SO RAISE UP YOR GLASS FOR A MOMENT

LET’S DRINK A TOAST TO YOUR NAME

THO’ THE WHISTLE AND BANJO LIE SILENT

IN OUR THOUGHTS YOU WILL ALWAYS REMAIN

MARTIN BYRNE