The Parting

The parting brings its silence
Like the straining of a bow
No longer can he tarry
While his ship waits down below
Dips his fingers in the ocean
Leaves his old skin on the shore
One last loving look cast backwards
And the boy comes home no more

The solemn rock of the headland
And the singing stream rolls down
And my old wound reopened
When I left my own town
When I saddled Godolphin
Before I let the leathers down
One last loving look cast backward
In this dream of that boy’s town

Aodh O’ Aodh O’ how quickly they go
Diving for treasure below
Aodh O’ Aodh O’ how quickly they go
Diving for treasure
And leaving the care of them
Aodh O’ Aodh O’ how quickly they go
Diving for treasure below

The house already echoes to the sound of yesterday
To the wild and yielding wonder
Of some long lost child at play
Won’t you stay ’till it be morrow
I heard the heartbeat call
One last loving look backward
Those last footsteps through the hall

Aodh O’ Aodh O’ how quickly they go
Diving for treasure below
Aodh O’ Aodh O’ how quickly they go
Diving for treasure
And leaving the care of them
Aodh O’ Aodh O’ how quickly they go
Diving for treasure below

• Written by Jimmy MacCarthy