American Wake Lyrics

American Wake lyrics

open up the door, she's standin' there 

with the smile in her eyes but the grey in her hair 

betrays the fact you strayed far from home

with your drinkin', your smokin', your whorin' around 

sit down by the fire, put your feet on the grate 

spend the night reminiscin' 'til the hour grows late 

always remember at the end of the day...

you can always go home...you just can't stay.



then it's off to the pub for to see your old mates 

ah, they all look older, but nothin' has changed 

and you drink 'til you're nearly out of your head 

"hey, what are yez all doin' snakin' off to bed?" 

then you're outside her flat but she's no longer there 

and the tears scald your eyes as you think of her hair 

in the photo they sent you of her wedding day 

you can always go home...you just can't stay. 



then you see her at mass with the kids at her side 

and it all comes back in the blink of an eye 

the tears and the laughter, the love and the lies 

and that dress she wore the night you said goodbye 

then her husband says "it's good to have you back" 

and she smiles for a moment and squeezes your hand 

but you know what she's thinkin', she doesn't have to say 

you can always go home...you just can't stay. 



and you swear to yourself time and time again 

it was all in the past, she don't mean anything 

now your life is full of laughter and bars 

what did you leave behind, just the sun...the moon...and the stars. 



then it's up in the mornin' at the crack of dawn 

with your stomach churnin', she says "c'mon now, sean, 

you'll be late for the plane," but that crack in her voice 

betrays the fact that you made your choice 

a long time ago, now there's no turnin' back 

cos last night you had your american wake 

and the bells are still ringin', can't you hear what they say 

you can always go home...you just can't stay.



say goodbye 

say goodybe

say goodbye, in the wind and the pourin' rain...

one last drink

one last drink

one last drink at shannon airport, then you're outta here, 

history around here, catch you again next year...

landin' at kennedy

landin'at kennedy

landin'at kennedy, all you feel is the pain, 

but it's too late, cos last night you had, you had, you had your 

american wake