From the 1916 production “Broadway and Buttermilk”
Words by John J. O’Brien and Al Dubin
Music by Rennie Cormack
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
1.Shure, I’ve roamed this wide world over
And of all the lands I’ve seen
There’s no place I’d rather dwell in
Than my little Isle of Green
Only last night I was gazing
On a sight that thrilled me through
But what I saw, I’ll see no more
‘Twas too good to be true
Refrain:
Sure the shamrocks were growing on Broadway
Ev’ry girl was an Irish colleen
And the town of New York was the county of Cork
All the buildings were painted green
Sure the Hudson looked just like the Shannon
Oh, how good and how real it did seem
I could hear mother singin’, the sweet Shannon bells ringin’
‘Twas only an Irishman’s dream
2. Shure you never miss familiar scenes
Until you’ve been away
You will never know what homeland means
Till you’re away to stay
And you welcome each reminder
Of the places that you miss
I’ll give the world to dream again
Another dream like this