I cried when ye left, me boy-o, me boy--
I cried when ye left, me boy-o, me heart.
Rememberin' all o' the tomorrows we never will share,
     I cried when ye left, me boy.

I expect that ye've got yer own life t' lead,
an' if I could hold ye back, I wouldn't.
Ye've got yer own mistakes t' make, yer own death t' die.
     But when I held ye in me arms, I scarce could let ye go.

Me old heart burnt in me like a brand;
like a brand did it burn, did it burn within me.
An' the pain it was hollow, an' the pain it was sweet,
     an' it burnt in me like a brand.

As if I could apologize fer all the words I never said,
all the gifts I never gave,
all the times I never told ye how I feel ...
     how proud I been t' call ye me son.

          Me son ...

I cried when ye left, me boy-o, me boy,
     rememberin' all the tomorrows....