An Exile's Dream Lyrics
Gerry Black And The Finnavons. This band came from Castleblaney Co. Monahan, the same small town that Big Tom comes from. This single was released in 1969. It's hard to know if it's a country or folk song, I'll guess country ? these lads were part of the Showband scene in Ireland during the 1960's and 70's. There's another song that uses the same title that's sung by Daniel O'Donnell which I also included here. There's even more songs about ''Dreaming'' and the popular one is Dreaming My Dreams Of You song [ lyrics ] which flolk band The Furey's covered.
When your heart's breaking up and your crying.
While breathing a cold foreign air.
And just when your home is so far far away.
A little dreaming and you can be there.
You can dream of your home in old Ireland,
In Roscommon or Longford, Westmeath.
Of the Shannon and Galway, the wild cliffs of Moher,
And the Blue Wash is citting beneath.
You can stand in The Vale Of Avoca,
Or in any a Phantoms Night Rem.
Was so strong and so sweet in the memory of Ireland,
Where the dreaming can be a journey's end.
When your heart's breaking up and your crying.
While breathing a cold foreign air.
And just when your home is so far far away.
A little dreaming and you can be there.
You can wander through Wexford or Sligo
Or through Gort Innismore, Knock Kildare.
Oh so strong and so sweet is the memory of Ireland,
A little dreaming and you can be there.
AN EXILE'S DREAM (as sung by Daniel O'Donnell)
Come listen to the story of an exile so forlorn
Who's here today, so far away, from the land where I was born
But still I smell the heather, Oh I see her lakes so grand
For every night it's my delight to dream of my homeland.
Refrain:
I can see the homes of Donegal, the hills of Glenswilly
I see the moon behind the hill, the cottage by the lee
I can see my mother's homestead from where the thatching gleams
I'll reach out and touch them when they're in my exile's dream.
Bridge:
Every hill and valley, every mountain stream
From the Boyne to the Shannon, from Lagan to the Lee
Ireland is my homeland, the likes I've never seen
It's my Irish home, far o'er the foam, that's in my exile's dream.
Instrumental:
Oh and now when I'm returning to sweet Eirinn's fragrant shores
My fortune made, my passage paid, my days away are o'er
And in a rustic cottage waits my cailin*, Maryanne
With lips I've missed and long to kiss I'll take her by the hand
Refrain:
And we'll see the homes of Donegal, the hills of Glenswilly
We'll see the moon behind the hill, the cottage by the lee
And we'll see my mother's homestead from where the thatching gleams
I'll reach out and touch them, no more an exile's dream
I'll reach out and touch them, no more an exile's dream
*cailin - girl in gaelic; pronounced ca-leen. English version would be colleen. The lyrics of this song were sent to me by Ginny in West Australia, thanks very much Ginny for taking the time to write out the words for me.
Come listen to the story of an exile so forlorn
Who's here today, so far away, from the land where I was born
But still I smell the heather, Oh I see her lakes so grand
For every night it's my delight to dream of my homeland.
Refrain:
I can see the homes of Donegal, the hills of Glenswilly
I see the moon behind the hill, the cottage by the lee
I can see my mother's homestead from where the thatching gleams
I'll reach out and touch them when they're in my exile's dream.
Bridge:
Every hill and valley, every mountain stream
From the Boyne to the Shannon, from Lagan to the Lee
Ireland is my homeland, the likes I've never seen
It's my Irish home, far o'er the foam, that's in my exile's dream.
Instrumental:
Oh and now when I'm returning to sweet Eirinn's fragrant shores
My fortune made, my passage paid, my days away are o'er
And in a rustic cottage waits my cailin*, Maryanne
With lips I've missed and long to kiss I'll take her by the hand
Refrain:
And we'll see the homes of Donegal, the hills of Glenswilly
We'll see the moon behind the hill, the cottage by the lee
And we'll see my mother's homestead from where the thatching gleams
I'll reach out and touch them, no more an exile's dream
I'll reach out and touch them, no more an exile's dream
*cailin - girl in gaelic; pronounced ca-leen. English version would be colleen. The lyrics of this song were sent to me by Ginny in West Australia, thanks very much Ginny for taking the time to write out the words for me.
