Paul Heaton - Blackwater Banks lyrics

It wasn't the ferry to Dublin Arrival at last on your shore It wasn't the shamrock awaiting On each pint of Guinness you poured It was Una and Anne in Kilkenny It was Seamus and Patrick in Cork It was Callum in Limerick, Aoife in Galway And the folk of this island for sure And the folk of this island for sure Oh Ireland, oh Ireland, no wonder my roots We're never in briefcases, never in suits Of New York or London or Paris – no thanks But down by the Blackwater Banks It wasn't the pride of East Belfast With its red, white and blue to the floor It wasn't the calls, from Divis to Falls Of “No, nay, never no more” It was Barry and James up in Derry As we finally headed back east And reluctantly boarded our ferry Each time you felt closer to peace Each time you felt closer to peace Oh Ireland, oh Ireland no wonder my roots We're never in briefcases, never in suits Of New York or London or Paris – no thanks But down by the Blackwater Banks I've pedalled from Larne down to Wexford Via Roscommon, Galway and Clare And Tipperary's so far ‘cos every damn bar Is pulling and diverting you there! It was Tully's in Kinvara and Murphy's in Thomastown That kept the old pumps abreast In Ireland you mention you're leaving And the likelihood seems to get less Oh Ireland, oh Ireland no wonder my roots We're never in briefcases, never in suits Of New York or London or Paris – no thanks But down by the Blackwater Banks Down by the Blackwater Banks Down by the Liffey Down by the Shannon Down by the Blackwater Banks