The Browns

When I was going to Primary school in Millstreet my Hometown
I knew the ageing brothers then Daniel and Jackie Brown
They must have been close to three score the years had made them gray
And still they worked as I recall and sweated for their pay.

The words from the contractors Denis Mac and Paddy Den
Were that the Browns were hard to beat the best of working men
And Denis Mac and Paddy Den were men who ought to know
For great workmen had worked for them back in the long ago.

The Browns worked with fellows half of their age conceding years in time
And with the best could hold their own though well beyond their prime
But time takes care of every one and great men fade away
And the tree five hundred years of age must fall and die one day.

And though feats of men who laboured hard old timers will recall
Their names are never written on the great memorial wall
And time takes care of everyone the powerful and the small
And to the grim reaper how hard you worked doesn't seem to count at all.

Two of the many great work men from Clara's mountain road
They never shirked the heavy job and they shouldered the workload
And though workmen no matter how good don't ever win acclaim
The brothers Daniel and Jackie Brown deserve a greater fame.

They worked hard and they drank hard and they never took a wife
And they were two you could not ask about the easy life
And you might say that they did their bit and in life achieved a lot
And it galls me just to even think that they might be forgot.