Henry's Songbook

Chorus:
Sailing, sailing, sailing through the sky
Sailing, sailing, sailing through the sky

I'll sing you a song of a lark in the morning
Sailing through the sky
Sailing forever above the Black Mountain
Sailing through the sky

The jailer comes round and he bids me good morning
Sailing through the sky
But already I've gone to the fair in Rathfriland
Sailing through the sky

Sometimes I go down to the bridge on a Saturday
Sailing through the sky
Stand in the sunshine with wee Tarry Flanagan
Watching the girls go by

Do you still miss me, will you still wait for me
Sailing through the sky
Will you give me a reason to wake in the morning
Sailing through the sky

And the jailer comes round to lock up in the evening
Sailing through the sky
But I've gone out walking with young Katie Houlahan
Sailing through the sky

[1995:] Recently I was playing and recording in Maghaberry Prison outside Belfast. Most of the prisoners were there on political charges, from both sides of the divide; many were serving life sentences. After the concert, I was speaking to one of the men and remarked that it must be very sad and lonely, having to spend so many years in such surroundings. He put his head to one side and smiled, and his eyes seemed to focus far beyond the walls that hemmed him in. "Sure I'm never here at all," he said, "most of the time I'm far away, maybe at a football match in Newry or a dance in Belfast or talking to the girls close to Banbridge town." I knew what he meant for he was already on his way, sailing through the sky. (Notes Tommy Sands, 'The Heart's A Wonder')