A Gunshot Away

Grandfather played the tin whistle with Paddy on his knee for his grandson he played songs of Ireland songs that will live on on Paddy’s tenth birthday Grandfather gave him his own to play Paddy took to it like a duck to water soon learned from his Grandfather songs of Ireland songs that will live on every school function when Paddy was there sweet songs filled the evening air Paddy played loud and Paddy played strong songs of Ireland songs that will live on Paddy joined the army on his birthday eighteen years and shipped away he took his tin whistle and he played marching songs songs of Ireland songs that will live on the Sergeant said one day you could hear Paddy’s tin whistle a gunshot away when we go to the front lines you must not play Paddy played his tin whistle on leave to entertain troops new found friends and new found love he played songs of Ireland songs that will live on his company took a hill one day in the middle of a fight was surrounded at the base late into the night Paddy heard the Major say get your tin whistle I need you to play the radio is gone and a planned air strike for this hill is on Paddy get your tin whistle and play and a hundred and fifty men will pray they hear it a gunshot away Paddy got his tin whistle and climbed the tallest tree he wanted the sound to carry it was not a good place to be he played all night with all his might songs of Ireland songs that will live on when the air strike time had come and gone a soldier was sent to get him down but a sniper had found him first a flag draped end to a man and as he was lowered into his land you could hear a hundred and fifty tin whistles play songs of Ireland songs that will live on love made a son far away and he was given his father’s name his grandfather brought him home and arranged for his stay gave his grandson a tin whistle on his tenth birthday Paddy took to it like a duck to water he learned to play songs of his great grandfather songs of Ireland songs that will live on