Thirty years ago today my world stopped turning with the words ‘Dad’s gone.’ A lifetime has happened since,
I qualified as a nurse,
Got engaged,
Married,
Became a mum,
Miscarried,
Became ‘Mum’ to three more children,
Attended first days at school and graduations.
Celebrated birthdays, Christmas’s and many different occasions,
All without Dad.
Thirty years is a long time, but this morning as I woke up in the bedroom of my childhood, surrounded by memories, it didn’t feel that long ago at all.
“I still miss him my oul man.”
I post this song by the Fureys every year…for Dad. xxx
Lyrics…The Old Man, by The Fureys.
The tears have all been shed now
We’ve said our last goodbyes
His soul’s been blessed, he’s laid to rest
And it’s now I feel alone.
He was more than just a father,
A teacher, my best friend
And he can still be heard in the tunes we shared when
We played them on our own.
I never will forget him,
For he made me what I am.
Though he may be gone,
Memories linger on.
And I miss him,
The old man.
As a boy he’d take me walking by mountain field and
Stream,
And he’d show me things not known to kings
A secret between him and me.
Like the colours of the pheasant
As he rises in the dawn.
And how to fish and make a wish
Beside the holy tree.
I never will forget him,
For he made me what I am.
Though he may be gone,
Memories linger on.
And I miss him,
The old man.
I thought he’d live forever
He seemed so big and strong.
But the minutes fly and the years rolled by
For a father and a son.
And suddenly when it happened
There was so much left unsaid.
No second chance to tell him thanks
For everything he’d done.
Oh I never will forget him,
For he made me what I am.
Though he may be gone,
Memories linger on.
I miss him,
My old man.
My thoughts on a page. 
Oh, beautifully, soulfully penned, Tric
Thank you sue.
I absolutely love your poem – so emotional! My father passed away when I was 14 and not a day goes by that I don’t think about him. I wish your poem was around then because it would have hit home on many levels. Bless you!
The poem is actually the lyrics of the song ‘The old man’ written not by me I’m afraid but by Finbar Furey who sings in the clip. I absolutely love it. As you say it’s worked for me over the years on so many levels.
I’ve edited the post to make that a bit clearer now.
Sorry to hear you lost your dad so young.
I can see why it’s worked for you! Great job!
lovely and know that he will always be there, no matter how many years have passed –
Thank you Beth. Somehow it was harder this year. I think it was the whole 30 year reminder.
Yes, certain anniversaries are more challenging than others
❤
Thank you Diana.
My brother gave us all a copy of this song at my father’s funeral. He passed 19 years ago tomorrow.
I’m sorry for your loss Tric. That, never changes.
I remember you telling me that Colleen. I thought of your Dad when I was posting it. It’s a fantastic song. I saw them sing it on stage and it was magic.
I’m touched, Tric, that you thought of my Dad. ❤
those lyrics are so beautiful.
Agreed and he sings them from the heart.
Oh how I wish we could spin back the wheel of time to tell them how much they are loved!
I suppose in that we were very lucky. As Dad’s death was so prolonged we had plenty time to show him and tell him he was much loved. While our friends dad’s were away at work every day Dad was at home.
Beautiful.
Thank you.
This is so moving and so thoughtful.
Thank you.
Losing someone at a young age can really impact the way you see life itself….to an extent it allows you to appreciate the ‘now’.