Verse 1 There’s a lantern swinging over Main, And thunder rolling down the plain, But inside O’Malley’s out of the rain, The music’s running wild, The tables shake, the floorboards creak, The fiddler hasn’t stopped all week, And every shy and quiet cheek Is laughing like a child. Chorus Oh the piper never sleeps, my boys, He plays through tears and plays through joys, Till every heart forgets its noise And dances off its cares! So stomp your boots and lift your voice, Tonight we’ve got no other choice, For living loud is Ireland’s choice — And music fills the air! Verse 2 Big Tom arrived from County Clare, With wind-torn coat and tangled hair, He swore he’d only stay for prayer — That lasted half a song! A whistle rang, the bodhrán roared, The crowd slammed mugs upon the board, And strangers sang in one accord Like they’d belonged all along. Chorus Oh the piper never sleeps, my boys, He plays through tears and plays through joys, Till every heart forgets its noise And dances off its cares! So stomp your boots and lift your voice, Tonight we’ve got no other choice, For living loud is Ireland’s choice — And music fills the air! Bridge When troubles knock upon your door, Just turn the handle, pour one more, A song can heal what gold can’t cure — That’s what the fiddle knows. [Instrumental Break] Verse 3 By morning light the crowd grows thin, The last old tune comes drifting in, Yet someone shouts, “We’ll start again!” And cheers begin to rise, For as long as pipes and hearts agree, And laughter rolls like the Irish Sea, No soul is ever lonely — see? There’s music in our lives. Final Chorus Oh the piper never sleeps, my boys, He wakes the night with roaring joys, Turns broken hearts to shining noise Beneath the tavern stairs! So sing it loud and sing it deep, The memories are ours to keep, For though the night may fall asleep — The music’s always there! Outro Hey! One more tune before the light, One more laugh before goodnight, For songs like these will guide us right Till we all meet again!
