The Isle of Innisfree
Emmet Cahill Lyrics

I've met some folks who say that I'm a dreamer
People have told me that I have unrealistic expectations

And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say
I acknowledge that their criticism may be valid

But sure a body's bound to be a dreamer
However, it's only natural for a person to dream

When all the things he loves are far away
Especially when the things they care about are out of reach

And precious things are dreams unto an exile
When someone is far from home, they hold their most treasured experiences as a memory that exists as a dream

They take him o'er the land across the sea
These dreams transport them back to their homeland, no matter how far away they may be

Especially when it happens he's an exile
The sense of longing is amplified when someone is forcibly separated from their home

From that dear lovely Isle of Inisfree
This is a reference to a specific place the singer holds dear in their heart

And when the moonlight peeps across the rooftops
During quiet moments when the singer is alone, they recall their memories of home

Of this great city, wondrous though it be
Even though they may live in a new, amazing place they still can't forget about where they are from

I scarcely feel its wonder or laughter
However, the excitement of this new place means very little to them in comparison to their longing for home

I'm once again back home in Inisfree
Their memories of home are so vivid that they feel like they are transported back there

I wander o'er green hills, through dreamy valleys
They imagine themselves traveling across the lush landscapes of home

And find a peace no other land could know
Their memories of home bring them a sense of serenity that they can't find anywhere else

I hear the birds make music fit for angels
Their memory of the natural world back home is filled with sounds that are ethereal and magical

And watch the rivers laughing as they flow
They remember the joy of watching a river and how it brought them joy

And then into a humble shack I wander
Their memories take them to a modest dwelling they lived in and they relive those moments

My dear old home and tenderly behold
They remember their dwelling place and look upon it with fondness

The folks I love around the turf fire gathered
They recall sitting around a fire with loved ones telling stories

On bended knee their rosary is told
They remember a time when their family prayed together, showcasing the importance of faith in their home

But dreams don't last, though dreams are not forgotten
As sweet as these memories may be, they are merely dreams and so, ultimately, fleeting

And soon I'm back to stern reality
The singer is brought back to the reality that they are far from home

But though they pave the footways here with gold dust
Even though gold may line the streets, the singer still misses home

I still would choose the Isle of Inisfree
No amount of gold can make the singer forget about the beauty and comfort of home