IRISH CLOVER

words and music Jamie MacKay copyright 1997

thomas riley walked a narrow path as he trod through the irish clover for 25 years he'd held his own but this year good cheer was over this year good cheer was over as he stood in prayer the salty air swept hope from the irish clover he plowed a crop down in the ground like another one two years older another one two years older in his bed that night he saw their plight he must leave the irish clover he'd been saving now for eight long years to sail to a brave new world to sail to a brave new world with the morning light he told his wife in their home by the irish clover he wiped her tear and felt her fear very soon he must leave her very soon he must leave her

life's journey is hard it's an uphill climb it's so uncertain don't know the design keep on praying till the morning till the night is over for God's grace surrounds us like the irish clover

with a glance he took his final chance to view the irish clover and a sad young wife who saw her life slip away on an english steamer slip away on an english steamer thomas said a prayer and called to her "molly i'll soon send for ya" as Atlantic Queen sailed out to sea away from belfast harbour away from belfast harbour going door to door he found no more of a job than he'd found in dublin halifax was cold as the devil's soul there was nothing here for a farmer nothing here for a farmer as he stood resigned he saw the sign "prince edward island" rent a lot and raise a crop the soil's rich with God's blessing the soil's rich with God's blessing

thomas paced along the harbour dock as he thought of the irish clover two years can be eternity when loves are far from each other when loves are far from each other he knew faith and prayer had brought him there away from the irish clover but soon he'd see that sail and he would embrace a wife and a daughter embrace a wife and a daughter the moral of this song now sung is soon this life will be over let God provide His love will guide us safe thru hell and high water safe thru hell and high water we are aliens and strangers here far away from our loving Father but the day will come when we will run safe to our Saviour safe to our Saviour