I left my homeland, bound for the U.S.A
And to Chicago, Illinois, it was there I made my way
I had some cousins there I'd never seen or known beside
But then me mother said I should look them up
Sometime before she died

There was Lucy Brown and me cousin Seán
Who had lost his legs in battle in the war in Vietnam
And there was Uncle Jim, a fireman bold
Who was retired with great distinction
For his bravery, I was told

Chicago, Chicago (Chicago)

It was John's birthday, so we went to town that night
And in a barroom in Chicago, we got caught in a fight
They picked my cousin John, a brave but crippled man
Who fought nobly for his country in the war in Vietnam
Well, I saw red just then, so I let fly
But lucky it was for me, there were some Irish lads close by
When they joined in the fight, we could not fail
We got justice and satisfaction, but we landed into jail

Chicago, Chicago (Chicago)

And I never was so happy as I was out in Chicago
With the family and the friends I found so true
And if ever I go back, I'll be a fireman in that city
And carry on the tradition that poor Seán could never do
Goodbye Chicago, (Goodbye Chicago)
For I can no longer stay
For I'm illegal in America, I must leave my home today
I'm being deported, lads
I'm on my way to Galway Bay
But I leave my friends in family, now there's nothing more to say
Well that's alright, me boys
What's done is done
But I wouldn't change the way things went
For it's justice we have won
And in the twist of fate, I'll be back once more
And just put my life together, lads, just like I did before

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Chicago, Chicago
Chicago, Chicago