Worked all my life, didn't bother dreaming
An honest man with a weekly wage, yeah
Wanted for nothing, had a life of meaning
It all went wrong with their intervening
Lost my job, lost my pride
Was struggling to make ends meet
I'll go away, I'll leave Today
To America I'll flee
I'm an Irishman with an empty hand
And I'm crying out for a change
We'll see better days with a job that pays
That's where I will be
Just an Irish man in an empty land
And I'm crying out for a dream
I'll return one day, well I hope and pray
I'll see you when I can, I'll leave for New York
Done all I can, now I've stopped my weeping
A fresh new start, won't be time for sleeping
I won't look back, have my goals in sight
I never thought I'd leave and make this wrong a right
Lost my job, lost my pride
Was struggling to make ends meet
I'll go away, I'll leave Today
To America I'll flee
I'm an Irishman with an empty hand
And I'm crying out for a change
We'll see better days with a job that pays
That's where I will be
Just an Irish man in an empty land
And I'm crying out for a dream
I'll return one day, well I hope and pray
I'll see you when I can, I'll leave for New York
After all
They're never there to catch you when you fall
After all
No I won't drown my fears in alcohol
After all
I emigrate away from all this now
After all
A second chance is waiting there for me
I'm an Irishman with an empty hand
And I'm crying out for a change
We'll see better days with a job that pays
That's where I will be
I'm an Irishman with an empty hand
And I'm crying out for a change
We'll see better days with a job that pays
That's where I will be
Just an Irish man in an empty land
And I'm crying out for a dream
I'll return one day, well I hope and pray
I'll see you when I can, I'll leave for New York