Story Behind The Song

I had stopped writing songs after leaving the jingle business. This song came to me spontaneously as I was driving to visit my father's grave, a full 12 years after he died. It was complete by the time I got there and I sang it for him in the "cold and the rain." This song was a gift to me from my father, because it opened the floodgates and restarted my songwriting.

Song Description

A song in honor of my father, John T. Griffith.

Lyrics

HERE'S TO MY WILD IRISH BOY
words & music
Tom Griffith
I have a picture of you as a child
The wind in your hair, your eyes sparkling wild
Headstrong and free, a face without guile
Before life did what it did to you
And though you are gone I am glad I knew you
Oh here's to my wild Irish boy

Here's to my wild, my wild, my wild
Here's to my wild Irish boy

You were trapped by your anger, held back by your pride
Twisted by the demons that you kept inside
Did God give you wings on the day that you died
To rise above all of this pain
May love, luck and laughter be all that remain
Oh here's to my wild Irish boy

Here's to my wild, my wild, my wild
Here's to my wild Irish boy
Here's to my wild, my wild, my wild
Here's to my wild Irish boy

I stand with my tears in the cold and the rain
And I mourn all we lost to our sorrow and shame
Then I think of your eyes and I call out your name
Praising all you tried to be
Now and forever you'll be part of me
Oh here's to my wild Irish boy

Here's to my wild, my wild, my wild
Here's to my wild Irish boy
Here's to my wild, my wild, my wild
Here's to my wild Irish boy

© 1996 Two Wings Music/ASCAP