The Old Man Lyrics
Finbar FureyMusic Video
The Old Man
The tears have all been shed now
We've said our last goodbyes
His soul's been blessed
And he's laid to rest
It's now I feel alone
He was more than just a father
A teacher my best friend
He can still be heard
In the tunes we shared
When I play them on my own
As a boy he'd take me walking
By mountain field and stream
He'd show me things
Not known to kings
Still secret between him and me
Like the colors of the pheasant
As he rises in the dawn
And how to fish and make a wish
Beside a Holly Tree
No I never will forget him
He made me "what I am"
And he may be gone
Memories linger on (and on)
And I miss him... the old man
I thought he'd live forever
He seemed so big and strong
The minutes fly
And the years roll by
For a father and a son
And suddenly when it happened
There was so much left unsaid
No second chance
To tell him thanks
For everything he's done
No I never will forget him
He made me "what I am"
He may be gone
Memories linger on (and on)
And I miss him... the old man
Father... I sing this song for you (repeat)
Song Details
🎶 Music & Lyrics: Phil Coulter - Irish songwriter, musician and film producer
📝 Song Brief: The Old Man is one of Phil Coulter’s most heartfelt compositions — a deeply personal tribute to his father. The song reflects on childhood memories, the lessons learned at a father’s side, and the quiet moments that shape a life. As the singer looks back, he realises how much of who he is comes from the man who raised him: the strength, the humour, the resilience, and the love — now gone but never forgotten.
🍀 Genre: Irish Folk Song, Folk, Celtic
👥 Covers: John McDermott, Celtic Thunder, The Fureys & Davey Arthur, Dan McCabe.
🎤 Featured Artist: Finbar Furey - Born in Dublin, Ireland on September 28, 1946. A multi-talented folk singer and musician, he is best known for his time spent with his brothers in the band, The Fureys. Other associations include Davey Arthur and the Clancy Brothers. He plays a range of instruments including guitar, banjo and the Uilleann Pipes. His son Martin Furey followed in his father's footsteps and was a foundation member of the Irish Folk Band, The High Kings.
💿 Album: Colours
Released: 2013
Country: Ireland
Format: CD, Album
Label: Banshee Music Ltd.
🎸 If you'd like to play this song on guitar, you can view the chord version on our sister site, Bell & Co Music.
🌿 Other Songs featuring Finbar Furey on this site:
- Don't Stop This Now — An uplifting song celebrating resilience, hope, and the courage to keep moving forward.
- I Remember You Singing This Song— A nostalgic look back at music shared, voices remembered, and moments that linger.
- Last Great Love Song, The — A moving reflection on love’s power to heal and endure through hardship.
- Sarah Waits — A gentle, emotional ballad about longing, patience, and the ache of separation.
- Sweet Liberty of Life — A call for an end to conflict, a renewal of compassion, and a world held together by love rather than fear.
- Taxi's Waiting, The — A reflective song about leaving, letting go, and the bittersweet pull between home and the wider world.
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