Henry's Songbook

Words which are wasted, words which are weak
What do we live for and what do we seek
Some way to love their man, some way to speak
To yesterday's people with yesterday's dreams

They've lived in this world for so many years
Fought in the wars but still long for peace
But now they look back on what might have been
For yesterday's people with yesterday's dreams

    Once my soul it would rise to the sound of love singing
    But the sounds of my childhood have long been forgotten
    I could dance without tiring from morning till evening
    But my old heart is wasted and my body grows feeble

Once we were young, we too had our dreams
To climb every mountain and see everything
But now we grow older and colder it seems
We're yesterday's people with yesterday's dreams

Repeat 1

(as sung by Finbar Furey)

[1981:] This song is mostly by Mary Flaherty. She wrote it for her mother who is the owner of Flaherty's Pub in Dingle. Her generation has seen two wars and a lot of trouble in Ireland, yet still they are longing for peace. It is a song for young people, too. The young generation owes it to the old generation to talk to them, to love them, to make them feel useful and needed. (Notes 'Folk Friends II')

[1984:] Written by Mary O'Flaherty for the deep love of her parents and how in this new world she can give them some comfort and tell them they're still wanted and needed. (FSB 12)