GRAND OLD
LADY
Grand old lady of the
family
Mrs Green to some; to me
Aunty Marie
The family turned around
her
And smiled at her ways
To keep us all together,
but now she’s gone
I guess her time had come
So many stories of times so
long ago
When you were young and beautiful
they said
Fifty when I was born, you
were always old to me
A sweet and charming grey-haired
and old lady
I never knew how old until
the last time that I saw you –
Thank you for waking up and
squeezing my hand –
Saying whatever it was;
telling me whatever it was
CHORUS
You won’t be coming ‘round
on Saturdays no more
While my father’s at the football
My Mum will sit alone; she’ll
drink her tea alone
Thinking of her trusted
friend
her dear and trusted friend
Of course now you’re gone I
have to say I’m sorry
For walking out on your
never ending stories
I was young and in a hurry
I was young and in a hurry
About your son – you need
not be ashamed
I’ll wave a flag for that
soft and gentle man
(After) Two years away you
told me how I felt
You said it couldn’t be any
other way
But sadder and wiser – how true
Sadder and wiser - now that you have gone
CHORUS
...of the family
Grand old lady of the
family – Aunty Marie
Goodbye
goodbye
See you in
heaven
(© M Coghlan
1989)
Commentary
I think this
is the first song I ever wrote on piano. For our dear Aunty Marie. Talked
incessantly but was full of life. Never really recovered from her son (my lovely
cousin John) killing himself. After I had been away for a couple of years she
told me on my return that I was no doubt sadder and wiser. It surprised me, and
I soon realised she was right. She made my childhood and early adulthood a lot more interesting.
Rest in peace grand old lady.
