Shining Gold

Now here's a tale of wonder 'bout a smuggler from the West
Who braved the mighty oceans' wrath and the perils of arrest
He headed out from Ireland with whisky and stolen guns
He kept it hid in barrels
To trade it all for shining gold

Half-way cross the ocean the waves began to swell
His boat began to toss and turn into a briny hell
He looked up at the coal black clouds and made a sinner's vow
God reach down and save my soul
I'll trade it all for shining gold

He thought of his false lover and he thought about his home
He left them all never to return
Weighed down by the barrels of his whisky and his guns
And he held on fast to his dreams
Of shining gold

God opened up the heavens and lightning struck the mast
His voice rang out 'Your burning lust for gold will be your last'
He gazed into the smuggler's heart to see what he could see
There lay a half-dead soul
Who'd trade it all for shining gold

He fell into the angry sea his hands wrapped round the guns
The barrels crashed across the deck and the whisky it did run
He hung onto a casket as empty as his heart
He would not lose those stolen guns
He'd trade 'em all for shining gold

He thought of his false lover and he thought about his home
He left them all never to return
Weighed down by the barrels of his whisky and his guns
And he held on fast to his dreams
Of shining gold

With one arm on the casket while one hand held the guns
He looked up to the light and saw God reaching out his hand
But the shine of gold was stronger
And the devil dragged him down
He thought about all he lost chasin' after shining gold

He thought of his false lover and he thought about his home
Left them all never to return
Weighed down by the barrels of his whisky and his guns
And he held on fast to his dreams
Of shining gold
He held on fast to his dreams
Of shining gold
He held on fast to his dreams
Of shining gold