Come all ye homesick fools and drifters
The hour has come to sing the truth
There's a time for sober introspection
A time to cut the wild dog loose
Verse
Now I've got roaming disposition
A wandering eye and a raging thirst
It's driven me to the furthest reaches
To escape first love and all the hurt
Now I can see a map of Ireland
In the dregs of bitters in this empty glass
And I can feel her breast against me
The rose of Roscrae, wild Irish lass
I can feel her father's fist now
As he knocks me 'cross that stable floor
And I left my blood and tears behind me
As I walked all night from Roscrae to Templemore
Verse
We sailed away and went half crazy
On the last frontiers of the western states
Haunted by hearts left behind us
Like the sweet young rose of old Roscrae
Verse
There's nothing for it, lads, but to sing the old songs
'Carrickfergus To Raglan Road'
So raise your harps and lift your glasses
Sing up those lips, we'll kiss no more
Now I can see a map of Ireland
In the dregs of bitters in this empty glass
And I can feel her breast against me
The rose of Roscrae, wild Irish lass
And I can feel her father's fist now
As he knocks me 'cross that stable floor
And I left my blood and tears behind me
As I walked all night from Roscrae to Templemore
I walked all night from Roscrae to Templemore