The Long Way Home - Derek Ryan

When my brother Pat went to court on Mary Dempsey

We didn’t know how we’d go

As sure as he never made his date

Cos he was over two week late

So I guess his watch was running kind of slow

Now Mary soon told the neighbours

That something ain’t right

We were all sent to search night and day

Sure we tried every part of town

But no sign of Pat McGowan

Returned upon the doorstep with this to say

I took the wrong road out of Dundalk

Missed a turnin' at Dungarvan

Ended up in Cork

Went to Galway, Dublin and on to New York

Oh, I guess I took the long way home

Now old Father John went to sound in all the church bells

He couldn’t miss all the fun

Though he never had a smile

Sure he was laughing all the while

When we told him 'bout the things that Pat had done

And there was no tellin' Mary it was all a mistake

Fore' she had no sense of humour that day

And though she didn’t mind the craic

She swore she’d never take take him back

After landing in her doorstep with this to say

I took the wrong road out of Dundalk

Missed a turnin' at Dungarvan

Ended up in Cork

Went to Galway, Dublin and on to New York

Oh, I guess I took the long way home

Hey wait a moment

There’s always somewhere to go

Oh, yes there is

Wait a moment then move off kind of slow

When my brother Pat went to court on Mary Dempsey

He didn’t think what he’d start

For another pub in town

Sure there’s talks of Par McGowan

And the road he took to winning Mary’s heart

Now Mary don’t take it lightly

For letting her down

She’s not one to sulk everyday

So when the Ceile came around

Sure she went with Pat McGowan

Having turned up on his doorstep with this to say

I took the wrong road out of Dundalk

Missed a turnin' at Dungarvan

Ended up in Cork

Went to Galway, Dublin and on to New York

So I guess I took the long way home

I took the wrong road out of Dundalk

Missed a turnin' at Dungarvan

Ended up in Cork

Went to Galway, Dublin and on to New York

So I guess I took the long way home

Oh, I guess I took the long way gone