In the 1960s, a new generation of dramatists made emigration a central theme in their work. John B Keane's musical play, Many Young Men of Twenty, debuted in 1961 with its rousing chorus in the title song – "many young men of twenty said goodbye"– becoming an Irish hit for the Dubliners. The group articulated the often brutal urban experience of Irishmen abroad in songs such as McAlpine's Fusiliers and Poor Paddy on the Railway, both about Irish labourers in England.
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
On that long day
From the break of dawn until the sun was high
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
They left the mountains and the glens
The lassies and the fine young men
I saw a tear in every girl and boy
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
Last night I held my darling in my arms
Farewell, my love, it breaks my heart to see you cry
Farewell my love for maybe I will die
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
On that long day
From the break of dawn until the sun was high
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
My boy Willie sailed away
And the big ship went away
He sailed away and left me here to cry
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
On that long day
From the break of dawn until the sun was high
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
I wish that I was back again
Beside my darling in the glen
We'd sit and watch the small birds as they fly
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
On that long day
From the break of dawn until the sun was high
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
On that long day
From the break of dawn until the sun was high
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
They left the mountains and the glens
The lassies and the fine young men
I saw a tear in every girl and boy
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
Last night I held my darling in my arms
Farewell, my love, it breaks my heart to see you cry
Farewell my love for maybe I will die
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
On that long day
From the break of dawn until the sun was high
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
My boy Willie sailed away
And the big ship went away
He sailed away and left me here to cry
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
On that long day
From the break of dawn until the sun was high
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
I wish that I was back again
Beside my darling in the glen
We'd sit and watch the small birds as they fly
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
On that long day
From the break of dawn until the sun was high
Many young men of twenty said goodbye
Contributed by donquijote82 - 2013/12/9 - 22:39
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