The Ballad Of Jack Larkin

Am G Am It was in the hungry forties when old Ireland lay in gloom. G E Thousands sailed from Galway Bay to find a brighter home. Am G Am Among them were three comrades who were brave and strong and bold, G Am And they came from Dinish Island off the Lettermullan shore. G Am The streets of Philadelphia they had heard were paved with gold, G E But very soon they realized it melted with the snow. Am G Am The pangs of hunger know no bounds, they make the young look old, G Am So they went to California a-hunting for the gold. G Am They staked a claim beside the hill known as the Mount Tahoe G E And started digging into it some fortunes for to hoard. Am G Am It was a promise to their parents on the day they left their home G Am They´d bring it back to Dinish off the Lettermullan shore. G Am McDonagh went to town one day to rustle up some stores. G E He was killed by three banditos who robbed him of his hope. Am G Am Folan and Jack Larkin they waited at their home, G Am And they buried him beside his claim on the side of Mount Tahoe. G Am And when the mound was patted down and the three Hail Marys said, G E They placed a little wooden cross as a marker on his head. Am G Am Jack Larkin faced into the east and he swore a mighty oath G Am There was blood for blood, he´d have revenge or never show his face at home. G Am That very day Jack went to town with his pistol in his belt, G E And he went into the tavern where they killed his cousin Pat. Am G Am He called out the banditos, and when the fight was o´er, G Am The three of them were lying dead upon the barroom floor. G Am Jack took a bullet in his back and for three long weeks he laid, G E Till one night he says to Folan: "Sure I´ll never see the day, Am G Am But tell my folk in Dinish if you ever make it back G Am Tell ´em I got the bastards that killed my cousin Pat." G Am He was buried with his cousin in the grave upon the hill, G E With a marker at his head and feet and the three Hail Marys said. Am G Am Before the mound was patted down Jack Larkin´s mighty soul G Am Had flown back home to Dinish off the Lettermullan shore.