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.