The Old Man
music and lyrics by Phil Coulter
The tears have all been shed now
We've said our last goodbye
His soul's been blessed
And he's laid to rest
And it's now I feel alone
He was more than just a father
A teacher my best friend
He can still be heard
In the tunes we shared
When we play them on our own
I never will forget him
For he made me what I am
Though he may be gone
Memory lingers on
And I miss him, the old man
As a boy he'd take me walking
By mountain field and stream
And he'd show me things
Not known to kings
It's secret between him and me
Like the colours of the pheasants
As he rises in the dawn
And how to fish and make a wish
Beside the holly tree
I never will forget him
For he made me what I am
Though he may be gone
Memory lingers on
And I miss him, the old man
I thought he'd live forever
Coz he seemed so big and strong
But the minutes fly
And the years roll by
For a father and his son
And suddenly when it happened
There was so much left unsaid
No second chance
To tell him thanks
For everything he'd done
I never will forget him
For he made me what I am
Though he may be gone
Memory lingers on
And I miss him, my old man
You can listen to the song here:
My favourite version of this song
is by John McDermott (4m4s) which can be purchased below:

