Castles of Gold-Pan Morigan

Times were hard for mayo farms; there was no room for me my parents then concluded i must ship across the sea to seek employment in the homes, of boston's rich and grand and help my family to withstand the want in ireland My mother said a prayer for me, my father hid his weeping i made a promise to myself that i am ever keeping despite the troubles that may come, the hard times i might know i'll never trade my island green for castles made of gold Though my given name is aoise, they call me bridget here i've worked my hands to bleeding in the laundry tubs three years i send my wages home each month and a letter i dictate and i dream of mayo all the time, both sleeping and awake I do not want for very much, and people aren't unkind i have ribbons for my hair now, and a sunday dress so fine but i miss the hills of my native home, where i labored and i played and i dream of mayo all the time, every night and day It's fifteen years have passed me now, i've raised my only son i brought my sisters over, though my parents are long gone i keep my prayers and songs alive, build castles out of hope and i think of mayo when i can as the troubles come and go I could never take the measure of all i've left behind some would say the treasures i have lost could ne'er be bought again not for streets all paved in diamonds, or castles made of gold all i've left of ireland now is all my heart can hold all i've left of ireland new is all my heart can hold Sometimes around midnight, when all the worlds' abed i sit alone beside the fire and dream of times long fled and i dream of mayo half-awake, and then again asleep and i wonder if my life right here might really be as sweet I dream of mayo half-awake and then again asleep and i think the homesickness that pains might someday finally heal for all the times both hard and fine -the dreams i've lost and sold i've never traded my island green for castles made of gold