so who was Daniel Murphy
and why did he come here
experience of famine
or else he felt it near
and why choose the coast of Ayrshire
instead of the USA
and what would be the welcome
when he set foot on the bay
Oh Danny boy
you took a risk, son
asylum seekers drown for less
and a lifetime mining underground
hardly looks now like success
but opportunity and danger
are in the eyes of those who see
and compared to starving back home
looks like success to me
a flood of fearful migrants
crossing choppy seas
leave behind their families
praying on their knees
go back to where you came from
you're not welcome here
drowning or starvation
it's not our problem dear
you're lazy and your stupid
like all your kind o'er there
if you'd only make an effort
you'd make a life so fair
so don't come here wi problems
or fairy tales of woe
ye were smart enough to come here
now be smart enough to go
Oh Danny boy
your risk paid off
the mines of Ayrshire didn't take you
you died at Kilwinning age 77
and the troubles didn't break you
your grandson who knew you
gave birth to my dear mum
she married another emigre
a wartime Polish one
So here's to Daniel Murphy
and all who reach these shores
let's welcome not reject them
and show them open doors
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