1.LONG GONE ARE THE DAYS

LONG GONE ARE THE DAYS OF BIG FAMILIES AND FRIENDS
WHEN A SCHOOL BUS WAS FILLED WITH ONE STOP ROUND THE BEND
AND SOAP DIDN’T CLEAN OUT YOUR MOUTH, BUT YOUR HANDS
AND THE OLDER AND WISER WAS KING OF THE LAND

A CHORE FOR YOUR MOTHER CAME STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART
A BROTHER AND SISTER COULDN’T BE KEPT APART
AND DO YOUR REMEMBER WHAT FATHER SAID GOES
AND SCARCE WERE THE PLACES THAT YOU STUCK YOUR NOSE

CHORUS
WHERE YOUR WORD WAS AS TRUE AS THE LIGHT FROM THE SUN
AND YOUR NEIGHBOR WOULD HELP YOU TO GET SOMETHING DONE
AND NOW THERE’S NO TIME FOR A SIMPLE HELLO
LONG GONE ARE THE DAYS, HOW I MISS THEM SO

DAD’S DAD CARRIED MAIL ON AN OLD RUGGED COURSE
IN WIND, SLEET AND RAIN ON A BEAUTIFUL HORSE
HIS CHILDREN AND WIFE KEPT THE GARDENS WITH CARE
‘TILL HE DIED AND LEFT THEM A BIG CROSS TO BEAR

I RECALL BEING TOLD SOMETHING SAID TO MY NAN
THIS FAMILY CAN’T LAST, SEND THEM OFF WHILE YOU CAN
BUT SHE TOLD HER MOM WITH A STIFF IRISH LIP
I’LL STAY ON MY COURSE OR GO DOWN WITH MY SHIP

REPEAT CHORUS

LIFE WAS SO HAPPY, THOUGH HARDER AND TOUGH
AND A KIND WORK OR SMILE IN YOUR DAY WAS ENOUGH
TODAY’S FRIENDS ARE TV’S, COMPUTERS AND SO
LONG GONE ARE THE DAYS, HOW I MISS THEM SO

By: KEVIN COLLINS