Lyrics The Ballad of John Williams - Johnny McEvoy

When last I saw John Williams the young man full of pride
His smiling bride of just 4 days stood shining by his side
He laughed and slapped me on the back
He said, "Boy oh can't you see?
I've seen the last of wind swept bogs and bogs the last of me."
The peelers and the landlords and the risings of the moon
And if ever I return again t'will be too bloody soon

Rich man poor man beggarman, wife
Sailed away into the night
Where they landed up no one knows
Round and round the story goes

He said, "I'll take my chance in far off New York town"
They say there's lots of work there and a good man won't stay down
For with my lassie by my side we'll build a better home,
And when the sea trips over lad we never more will roam,
So we said farewell upon the key there was nothin' left to do,
But to pray for John, and his lovely bride, that their dreams may all come true

How I envied you John Williams and your lovely fair haired bride
To be sailing on that mighty ship across the ocean wide
For she's the finest liner that was ever built by man
And they say there's naught can sink her not even God's own hand
Man's pride can be his own downfall, that great ship sailed from home
And I thought I heard the banshee's cry, that chilled me to the bone