Famine Road

— Brian W. Flynn

Rock by rock and stone by stone I walked along the famine road, Through the limestone of the Burren at the foot of Mullaghmór.
And I had a silent revelation as I walked this lonely strand,
That every stone upon this road was touched by hungry hands.

In my mind I see their black coats turned against the wind and rain,
I hear their cries of desperation, the anger and the shame.
To watch their children die of hunger, to be driven from the land,
And I hear their prayers that went unanswered to feed these hungry hands.

In spite of rain and hunger they broke and laid these stones,
Somewhere deep inside they found the strength to carry on.
And I'm sure they never realized, it was never in the plan,
But they held the spirit of a nation safe in hungry hands.

Now they say this road leads nowhere, but I'm sure it never ends,
It took their children round the world to strange and distant lands.
And we who are their children's children in our hearts we understand,
That very road we've ever walked was built by hungry hands.

Rock by rock, stone by stone I walked along the famine road,
Through the limestone of the Burren at the foot of Mullaghmór.
And we who are this island's children in our hearts we understand,
That very road we've ever walked was built by hungry hands.
Yes, every road I've ever walked… was built by hungry hands.