TWENTY-ONE YEARS
Traditional (Ireland)


The judge said "Stand up lad and dry up your tears"
You're sentenced to Dartmoor for twenty-one years"
So dry up your tears babe and kiss me goodbye 
The best friends must part now, so must you and I

I hear the train coming, 'twill be here at nine
To take me to Dartmoor to serve up my time
I look down the railway and plainly I see 
You standing there waving your goodbyes to me

Six months have gone by babe, I wish I were dead
Tis a cold dreary dungeon and rocks for my head
It's raining, it's hailing, the moon gives no light
Now will you tell me babe, why you never write

I've counted the days babe, I've counted the nights
I've counted the footsteps, I've counted the lights
I've counted the raindrops, I've counted the stars
I've counted a million of these prison bars

I waited, I trusted, I longed for the day
A life-time so lonely, now my hair's turning grey
All my thoughts are for you babe, 'til I'm out of my mind
For twenty-one years is a mighty long time
For twenty-one years is a mighty long time