Open up the door, she's standin' With the smile in her but the gray in her hair Betrays the fact you strayed far from With drinkin', your smokin', you're whorin' around
Sit down by the fire, put your on the grate Spend the night reminiscin' 'til the hour grows remember at the end of the day You can always go home, you just can't
Then off to the pub for to see your old mates Ah, they all look older, but has changed And you drink 'til nearly out of your head Hey, what are yez all doin', off to bed?
Then you're outside her flat but she's no there The scald your eyes as you think of her hair In the photo they sent you of her day You can always go home, you can't stay
Then you see her at Mass with the at her side And it all comes in the blink of an eye The tears and the laughter, the love and the And that dress she wore the you said, Goodbye
Then her husband says, "It's good to you back" And she smiles for a moment and squeezes your But you know what thinkin', she doesn't have to say You can always go home, you just can't
And you swear to yourself, and time again It was all in the past, she don't anything Now your life is full of and bars What did you behind, just the sun, the moon and the stars?
Then up in the mornin' at the crack of dawn With your stomach churnin', she says, "Come on, now, You'll be late for the plane" but crack in her voice Betrays the fact that you made your
A long time ago, now no turnin' back 'Cause night you had your American wake And the bells are still ringin', can't you what they say? You can go home, you just can't stay
Say goodbye, say goodbye, say In the wind, the river and the pourin' One drink, one last drink, one last drink At Shannon Airport, then we're here
History around here, catch you again next Landin' at Kennedy, at Kennedy, landin' at Kennedy All you feel is the But it's too late, it's too late 'cause last you had You had American wake