It started in Dublin before I was born
Crossing the Irish Sea to weather a storm.
London called through the wind and rain
Big city lights and a country's flame.
To Manchester then, a city united
At least to outsiders.
But to those within it's somewhat
Divided.

Summers in France.
Dining in Provence
Time in Toulouse
And along the Loire.
But Paris! Paris has that
Je ne sais quoi
Fine wine, fine company
It's a fine philosophy.

A German exchange
in einer stadt namens
Bad Bentheim.
Exposed to a culture
And the work of Rammstein.
A few days in Berlin
A fantastic city with much
History within.

Gondolas in Vienna if only for a day
Sailing down the Danube
Water wants us on our way.
We stay for a while
Within the walls of Budapest,
My first shot of Absinthe
Puts my liver to the test.

No rest for the wicked
That wanderlust I long.
Settled for a while by the lights of
Hong Kong,
A place I felt for a while at peace
High in the Monastery of Lantau's peeks.
I went once and I went again.
When wizened crones speak of golden devils,
Stroking my blonde hair on the streets of
Shenzhen.

since before I was born I can remember time picking me up and carrying me along in its embrace it held me close never letting me down never stopping along the way sometimes speeding up sometimes slowing down freezing in slow motion moments it has never let me down running on through these presents here Passing here past time's arrow only moving in one direction no instant replays no do overs leaving traces of memories some false some recovered some discovered left with the traces of remorse and guilt in pain to tend along our way
time my sweetest friend and enemy
of endings I have always thought a lot these days these ways these happy unhappy joyful passing passing moments with you I held on tight to your impartial embrace knowing full well one day on the ground you will lay me down

I walk away from this ***** grey quay, step onto an equally ***** old boat
Only God and a sailors skill will keep this old thing afloat

I'm saying goodbye to the place that I know, a place of hunger and toil
I sail in search of the promised land, of sunshine and rich fertile soil

Will I look back to the place that I've left as I sail off over the sea?
No, for it might drag me back to a place where I don't want to be

Like the brave men of old I have to be bold in the search for my new destiny
I leave behind a life of servitude for a new life where I can be free

No magical skills do I bring with me, just a love of the land and the soil
But in my new promised land I will be free and for only myself will I toil

In my bag a handful of seed, a small Axe and a knife that I own
But its with these crude tools in my promised land I'll carve out a place to call home

The ship sails on and old Ireland is gone 'tis now just a faint memory
Soon I'll be there breathing freedoms fresh air in my new land the land of the free