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The Boy from Kirkby
Kaurna Cronin Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

He said I'm only 10 years old
I did never mean to hurt no one
And the lawyers whispered in his ear
Be careful what you say you've done

And the mother whispered in his ear
If my boy had made it even to three
He'd be twice what you are worth
As her tears sooner swallowed her words

But I'll take you back
To that haunted railway track
To waltz with his ghost, down in Walton
So you feel her pain
For her sons tortured name
And the murder won't be forgotten

The judges words were weakly written
Two 10 year old boys to be left not living
Dead in the clasp of custodies hands
Till they were deemed to be of man
A punishment pointlessly given

But Ill take you back
To that haunted railway track
To waltz with his ghost, down in Walton
So you feel her pain
For her sons tortured name
And the murder won't be forgotten

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Kaurna Cronin's song "The Boy from Kirkby" tell a heartbreaking story that is likely based on real events. The song revolves around a 10-year-old boy who finds himself caught up in a situation that leads to tragedy. The opening lines convey the boy's remorse, as he states that he never intended to hurt anyone. However, the presence of lawyers implies that he may have been involved in something serious, urging him to be cautious with his words.


The song then shifts focus to the boy's mother, who whispers in his ear, expressing her pain and longing for what could have been. She mentions that if her son had survived past the age of three, he would have been of greater worth. Her tears interrupt her words, emphasizing the depth of her grief.


The chorus takes the listener back to a haunted railway track where the ghost of the boy lingers. The image of waltzing with his ghost in Walton evokes a sense of sorrow and longing. The mention of feeling the mother's pain and the insistence that the murder will not be forgotten underscores the gravity of the tragedy and the desire for justice.


Overall, "The Boy from Kirkby" paints a poignant picture of a young life cut short and the profound impact it has on those left behind. It explores themes of remorse, grief, and the quest for remembrance and justice.


Line by Line Meaning

He said I'm only 10 years old
The boy acknowledges his young age and innocence in the situation.


I did never mean to hurt no one
He expresses that he never intended to cause harm to anyone.


And the lawyers whispered in his ear
Legal advisors advised him quietly and secretly.


Be careful what you say you've done
They caution him to be mindful of the words he uses to describe his actions.


And the mother whispered in his ear
The boy's mother speaks softly and confidentially to him.


If my boy had made it even to three
She imagines what her son's life could have been if he had lived past the age of three.


He'd be twice what you are worth
She believes her son would have achieved much more than the person responsible for his death.


As her tears sooner swallowed her words
She becomes too emotional and her tears prevent her from continuing to speak.


But I'll take you back
The songwriter wants to transport the listener to a specific time and place.


To that haunted railway track
He refers to a tragic location with a significant impact on the events.


To waltz with his ghost, down in Walton
To emotionally connect with the spirit of the deceased boy in a symbolic way.


So you feel her pain
To empathize and experience the mother's sorrow.


For her sons tortured name
To understand the suffering endured by her child and the damage caused by the incident.


And the murder won't be forgotten
The songwriter emphasizes that the tragic act committed will always be remembered.


The judges words were weakly written
The judge's verdict or statement lacked conviction or strength.


Two 10 year old boys to be left not living
The songwriter criticizes the outcome of the case, where both young boys lost their lives.


Dead in the clasp of custodies hands
They died while in the custody or control of the authorities.


Till they were deemed to be of man
They were considered adults or held responsible as if they were fully-grown men.


A punishment pointlessly given
The punishment received was deemed unnecessary or futile.


But Ill take you back
The songwriter reiterates their intention to transport the listener to a specific moment.


To that haunted railway track
Referencing the tragic location once again.


To waltz with his ghost, down in Walton
Symbolically connecting with the spirit of the deceased boy once more.


So you feel her pain
Inviting the listener to empathize with the mother's grief and suffering.


For her sons tortured name
To understand and acknowledge the trauma experienced by her child and the impact it had.


And the murder won't be forgotten
Highlighting that the tragic act of murder will always be remembered and not fade away.




Lyrics © Sentric Music
Written by: Kaurna Cronin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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