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A Long Time Ago
The Irish Rovers Lyrics


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He passed on worried and warning
Carried away by a moonlight shadow.
Lost in a riddle that Saturday night
Far away on the other side.
He was caught in the middle of a desperate fight
And she couldn't find how to push through

The trees that whisper in the evening
Carried away by a moonlight shadow
Sing a song of sorrow and grieving
Carried away by a moonlight shadow
All she saw was a silhouette of a gun
Far away on the other side.
He was shot six times by a man on the run
And she couldn't find how to push through

I stay, I pray
See you in Heaven far away...
I stay, I pray
See you in Heaven one day.

Four A.M. in the morning
Carried away by a moonlight shadow
I watched your vision forming
Carried away by a moonlight shadow
A star was glowing in the silvery night
Far away on the other side
Will you come to talk to me this night
But she couldn't find how to push through

I stay, I pray
See you in Heaven far away...
I stay, I pray
See you in Heaven one day.

Far away on the other side.
Caught in the middle of a hundred and five
The night was heavy and the air was alive
But she couldn't find how to push through
Carried away by a moonlight shadow
Carried away by a moonlight shadow
Far away on the other side.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song describe the story of a couple who were separated by death. The man died in a tragic incident in which he was involved in a fight and shot six times by a man on the run. The woman was not able to help him and was left grieving his loss. The song narrates her longing to be reunited with him in heaven someday. The moonlight shadow serves as a metaphor for the memory of the man that continues to haunt the woman.


The song is full of melancholic imagery, depicting the sorrow and grief of the woman who lost her lover. The trees whisper in the evening and sing a song of sorrow, and a star glows in the silvery night as she watches visions of him forming. The lyrics also suggest that the incident happened on a Saturday night, a time when people typically let loose and indulge in activities such as drinking and partying that may lead to violent incidents.


Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the power of love and the pain of separation. The woman's inability to push through and save her lover represents the tragic limitations of human power and the inevitability of death.


Line by Line Meaning

He passed on worried and warning
He left with concern and caution


Carried away by a moonlight shadow.
He was taken away by the darkness of the night


Lost in a riddle that Saturday night
He was confused and perplexed on that fateful night


Far away on the other side.
He was on the opposite end, distant and unreachable


He was caught in the middle of a desperate fight
He was stuck in the midst of a struggle for survival


And she couldn't find how to push through
She was unable to find a way to overcome the obstacles in her path


The trees that whisper in the evening
The trees that murmur in the dark


Sing a song of sorrow and grieving
They lament and mourn


All she saw was a silhouette of a gun
All she could see was the outline of a weapon


He was shot six times by a man on the run
He received six bullets from a fleeing assailant


I stay, I pray
I remain and pray


See you in Heaven far away...
I hope to meet you in a distant heaven


Four A.M. in the morning
It was four o'clock in the morning


I watched your vision forming
I witnessed a dream of you taking shape


A star was glowing in the silvery night
A celestial body shone in the shimmering darkness


Will you come to talk to me this night
Will you come to converse with me this night


Caught in the middle of a hundred and five
Trapped in the midst of many an adversary


The night was heavy and the air was alive
The night was oppressive and the atmosphere was vibrant


Far away on the other side.
Still distant and out of reach


Carried away by a moonlight shadow
Whisked away by the obscure veil of the moon


See you in Heaven one day.
I am confident I will meet you in heaven someday




Contributed by Bentley D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

Ian Burt


on Bluenose

You have missed out a verse.

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