Farewell to Philomena

Farewell to Philomena
Farewell to Bantry Bay
The blossom’s out in Baltimore
But no, I cannot stay

I will not say I’m dreaming
The sun is coming through
God knows there is a meaning
In everything you do

Yes, I remember Skibbereen
And the cliffs at Mizen Head
I cannot see you any more
The living or the dead

Farewell to Philomena
Farewell to Bantry Bay
The blossom’s out in Baltimore
And no, I cannot stay

You stood there on the mountain road
With angels in your hair
You tried to see the future
The future was not there

I will not say I’m dreaming
The sun is coming through
God knows there is a meaning
In everything you do

Farewell to Philomena
Farewell to Bantry Bay
The blossom’s out in Baltimore
And no, I cannot stay

These are the lyrics to a song inspired by my neighbour, Philomena, who died recently.  She came from Baltimore, in an area of southern Ireland I happened to visit a few years ago.