I wish I was in Carrickfergus Only for nights in Ballygrand I would swim over the deepest ocean Only for nights in Ballygrand But the sea is wide and I cannot swim over And neither have I the wings to fly I wish I had a handsome boatsman To ferry me over my love and I (This verse is only sung on the "40 years "cd) My childhood days bring back sad reflections Of happy times there spent so long ago My boyhood friends and my own relations Have all past on now with the melting snow So I'll spend my days in this endless roving Soft is the grass and shore, my bed is free Oh to be home now in carrickfergus On the long rode down to the salty sea Now in Kilkenny it is reported On marble stone there as black as ink With gold and silver I would support her But I'll sing no more now til I get a drink Cause I'm drunk today and I'm seldom sober A handsome rover from town to town Ah but I'm sick now my days are number Come all me young men and lay me down Come all me young men and lay me down.