Once upon a time
A Dublin girl ran free
Down the cobblestones
Round pubs and homes
As rich as she could be
Swimming in the Irish Sea
Climbing up Bray Head
Her lips were warmed
With pots of tea
Chips and buttered bread
Fed love from Mam and Da

They raised her up
They made her fly
They gave her roots and wings
As time moves on and years go by
She'll miss those simple things
She's the girl I used to be

The playgrounds all came down
And we mourned our factories
Times were tough, but I had enough
I had my family
Life kicked in with all its might
But my strong heart wouldn't break
I got kicked around and broken down
I took all that I could take
But you raise me up
You made me fly
You gave me roots and wings
As time moves on and years go by
I miss those simple things
And the girl I used to be

Now I'm grown with a child of my own
And I hope to God on high
That these are the days she thinks upon
As the best days of her life

And I'll raise her up
I'll make her fly
I'll give her roots and wings
As time moves on and years go by
She'll miss those simple things
And the girl she used to be
She's the girl I used to be