1. Oh my darling brother, you were much too
young,
To waive your chance of conquering the
waves,
You were only seventeen, your life not yet
begun,
So much of life and love you not yet gave.
What were your final thoughts that day, fore
now I’ll never know.
Why did you have to leave me Tommy O’.
Why couldn’t you have listened and heeded
the alarm,
When warned of threatening weather hailing

2. Four and one half decades past, since that tragic
day,
A day that shall forever, haunt my mind.
And though it all seemed calm between the river
and the bay,
I lost you in July of 69.
Did it ever cross your minds, ‘perhaps we
shouldn’t go!’
Why did you have to leave me Tommy O’.
I cannot help but wonder if you were living still,
What stories would we share throughout those
years?
Would we sit and sing and drink, until we had
our fill,
As we wipe away fond memories in our tears.

3. So tonight I light a candle to celebrate your
birth,
And stare intently at your handsome face
For all I have are memories and pictures of
your worth
And bygone years we never can replace.
So happy birthday brother, I love and miss you
so,
Why did you have to leave me Tommy O’.
And weeping in the wake of waves I hear your
sweet echo
Come hold my hand, your brother Tommy O.’

4. In Loving Memory of my
brother
Thomas Edwin Gary
28 January 1952 - 12 July
1969
Patrick M. Gary