My story goes way back to the 60s When I first went across the Atlantic Sea I was on a Christmas break with my family It was all so very new and strange to me. As we settled in our digs downtown Manhattan We were sipping a beer and chatting in an Irish bar Thinking about the songs that America Irish sing Like Molly Malone and Whiskey in the Jar I remember a man and my dad talking He was asking him were his accent was from Then I heard him say something never thought I would hear again Now I've heard it said so many times you know. (Chorus) He said, I wish I was home in Ireland for Christmas He said, I miss the Emerald Isle my friend you know He said I wish I was home in Ireland for Christmas Let's have a drink to the good ole times back home Well it took me a few years to go back there Now I think I've settle down in the USA I've lived Philly and Chicago and all around the coast But at Christmas time it's these words I always say chorus Now I'm sitting on a bar stool here in New York Sipping a jar and thinking about going home Then I meet a man from Ireland, he's over on a break We get talking about a famous Broadway show He said to me have you ever been to Ireland Have you ever been across the Irish Sea He said to me have you ever been to Ireland Have you ever seen the 40 shades of green? I said chorus