Words and Music by Ben Scott © 2023

He had a bike that had never been seen in Ireland before
He came in on the ferry like he’d never been away
Rode in to the city like Brando with a beard
Where the blue flags were flying for the Dublin GAA

Chorus:
I’ve been away, so long, so long
All promise and meaning here has gone
I’ve been away, I’ve been away, so long, so long
And I’ve lost the sense of home

He wove in through the alleyways going who knows where
Searching for the places where the old ghosts still sing
Nothing much had changed, he still knew every turn
And he motored down the quays from Phoenix Park to Ringsend

Chorus

Bridge:
And all the memories came flooding back
The ones he cherished and the ones he’d like to throw back
Stopped in for a pint in a pub he once knew well
The barman looked him over and said “where you from Jack?”
“From here… I’ve just been away.”

When his mates asked if he planned to return for good
Well he stared into his glass and he did not reply
Sang a song down in the bar just to show that he was there
Then he kept the throttle open all the way to Rosslare

Chorus