lost little children

In onze serie kippevelliedjes een liedje van het album The Crossing van Tim O’Brien, dat gaat over de grote emigratiegolf van Ierland naar Amerika toen er in Ierland hongersnood was door de mislukkende aardappeloogsten.

Het nummer gaat over de kinderen die hun ouders, die al eerder alleen waren afgereisd, nareisden als die genoeg geld hadden verdiend om hun kinderen over te laten komen.

Stel je die kinderen voor die helemaal alleen arriveerden, met hun naam op hun jas vastgespeld, wachtend op de kade in een nieuw, vreemd land. De aankomsttijden waren altijd onzeker, de communicatie overzee was moeilijk, en de situatie van de emigranten instabiel. Veel gezinnen werden nooit herenigd.

Knusliedjes:

Kippevelliedjes:

Lost Little Children – Tim O’Brien, Robin & Linda Williams

Where are my mama and daddy
They came a long time before me
Now we’ve come on the steamship Atlantic
From our home far across the stormy sea

I have their letter in my pocket
They said we would meet on the pier
But the day it is now almost over
With the darkness and cold drawing near

Will they know their lost little children
As they look for my face in the crowd
It’s been so long since they’ve seen me
And I wonder if they’ll know me now

We gave them our four pounds and twenty
One last look at the green rocky shore
They told us the new world has plenty
But we’d never see Sligo anymore

Will they know their lost little children
As they look for my face in the crowd
It’s been so long since they’ve seen me
And I wonder if they’ll know me now

Hold to my hand little brother
Be brave and try not to cry
We have a good father and mother
And soon we’ll be safe by their side

Will they know their lost little children
As they look for my face in the crowd
It’s been so long since they’ve seen me
And I wonder if they’ll know me now

Repeat chorus