Christy Moore - Knock lyrics

At the early age of thirty-eight
Me mother said 'Go West!'
'Get up, ' says she 'And get a job' says I
'I'll do my best' i pulled on me Wellingtons
To march to Kiltimagh
But, I took a wrong turn in
Charlestown and ended up in Knock

Oh once this quiet crossroads was
A place of gentle prayer
Where Catholics got indulgent once
Or twice a year
You could buy a pair of rosary
Beads or get your candles blessed
If you had a guilty conscience you
Could get it off your chest

Then came the priest form Partry
Father Horan was his name
And since he's been appointed Knock
Has never been the same 'Begod, ' says Jem
'tis eighty years since Mary was adout'
'Tis time for another miracle' and
He blew the candle out
From Fatima to Bethlehem
From Lourdes to Kiltimagh
There's never been a miracle like
The airport up in Knock

To establish terra firma he draw
Up a ten year plan
And started running dances around 1961
He built a fantabulous church, Go h-álainn
On the holy ground and once he had a focal
Point he started to expand

Chip shops and Bed and Breakfasts
Sprung up over night
Once a place for quiet retreats
Now a holy sight
All sorts of fancy restaurants for
Every race and creed
Where black and white and yellow pilgrims
All could get a feed

The stalls once under canvas
Became religious supermarts
With such a range o' godly goods
They had top twenty charts
While the airport opposition was destroyed
By James' trump card
For centenary celebrations he got
John Paul the twenty-third

'We had the Blessed virgin here
' Bold Jamesie did declare
'And Pope John Paul the twenty-third
Appeared just over there'
'Now do you mean to tell me'
He said in total shock
'That I am not entitled to
An airport here in Knock'

TD's were lobbied and harassed with
Talk of promised votes
And people who'd been loyal for years
Now spoke of changing coats
Eternal damnation was threatened on the flock
Who said it was abortive building
Airports up in Knock

Now everyone is happy the miracle is complete
Father Horan's got his runway
It's eighteen thousand feet
All sorts of planes could land there
Of that there's little doubt
Handy for the George Bush to
Keep knock Cadaffi out

Did NATO donate, me boys
Did NATO donate the dough?
Did NATO donate, me Girls
Did NATO donate the dough?
Did NATO donate the dough, the dough
Did NATO donate the dough?
Eighteen thousand feet of runway is an
Awful long way to go