Here are the traditional lyrics to "In The Irish Mist!"

THE BONNY SHOALS OF HERRING:
With our nets and gear we're faring,
on the wild and wasteful ocean
It's out there on the deep we harvest our bread.
as we hunt the bonny shoals of herring

It was on a fair and a pleasant day,
out of Yarmouth harbor I was faring
as a cabin boy on a sailing lugger,
for to hunt the bonny shoals of herring

Oh, we left our homegrounds in the month of June
and for Canny Shiels we soon were bearing
with a hundred cran of the silver darlings
that we'd taken from the shoals of herring

Now the work was hard & the hours were long
and the treatment sure it took some bearing
and I used to sleep standing on my feet
all about the bonny shoals of herring

Now your up on deck, you're a fisherman
and your learning all about seafaring,
got your education, scraps of navigation
as you hunt the bonny shoals of herring

In the stormy seas and the living gales,
Aye, and the gear that I was wearing
sailed ten thousand miles, got 10 million fishes
as we hunted for the shoals of herring

Night & day we're faring,
come winter wave or winter gale
sweating our pores , growing up , growing old -
as we hunt the bonnie shoals of herring

 

A LADY FAIR:
There was a lady in her fathers garden a brisk young sailor came passing by
he stood a while and he gazed upon her and he said young lady won't you marry I

I'm not a lady, but a poor wee girl and a poor wee girl by a low degree
therefore young man you may try some other for a servant girl I'm not fit to be

Oh, I have houses and great big living and plenty money for to set you free
If you'll come home I'll make you my own and you'll have servants to wait on thee

It's seven years since I had a sweetheart and seven more since I didn't see
seven years I will wait upon him for if he's alive he'll come home to me

Oh,It's seven years since you had a sweetheart
and seven more since you didn't see,
seven more you will wait upon him perhaps this young man you might never see

Oh if he's sick I wish him better or if he's dead I wish him rest
But if he's alive I will wait upon him for he's the young man that I love best

He put his hand into his pockets his lily white fingers being thin and small
and up between them he pulls a gold ring and when she saw it - she down did fal

He lift her up into his arms and gave her kisses quite tenderly
sayin I'm your young and your single sailor
and now at last I've come home to thee

Oh,I am your true and single sailor you thought was drowned all in the sea
but I've passed over all my toil and trouble and I've come home love to wed with thee

Oh, come all you fair and tender maidens
don't slight your sailors wilst they're at sea
when they come home they'll make you there own
and they'll bring you o're to your wedding day

 

THE BOYS OF KILLYBEGS:
There are wild and rocky shores
on the coast of Donegal
The fishermen are hardy brave and free
And the big Atlantic sweII
is a place they know right well
As they fight to take a living from the sea

Chorus:
With a pleasant rolling sea
and the herring running free
The fleet all riding gently through the foam
When the boats are loaded down,
there'll be singing in the town
When the boys of Killybegs come rolling home

Now you've donned your rubber boots
and you've got your oil skins on
You've checked your gear to see that it's OK
And your jumper keeps you warm,
for it's cold before the dawn
And you're ready to begin another day

Now you're headed out to sea and the wind is blowing free
And you cast your nets as rain begins to fall
But the sun comes riding high and the clouds will soon roll by
And today you'll maybe get a bumper haul.

Now there's purple in the hills
and there's green down by the shore
And the sun has left it's gold upon the sea
And there's silver down below,
where the herring fishes go
When we catch them there'll be gold for you and me

Now the weather's turning rough
and the work is mighty tough
And the ropes will raise the welts upon your hands
But you'll never leave the sea,
for whatever you may be
Once it's in your blood, it's hard to Iive on land.

 

DONEGAL DANNY:
I remember the night when he came in
The wintery cold and the damp
A giant of a man with an oilskin coat
and a bundle that said he was a tramp
He stood at the bar, and he called a pint,
Then he turned and gazed into the fire
"On a night like this to be safe and warm
Is my one and only desire."

Chorus:
And here's to those who are dead and gone
The friends that I loved dear.
Here's to you and I bid you adieu
Singing, Donegal Danny's been here, me boys
Donegal Danny's been here.

And then in a voice that was hushed and low,
He said, "Listen. I'll tell to you a tale
How a man of the sea became a man of the road
And never more will set sail.
I fished from Cork, and Killybegs, Argyle and Baltimore
But the cruel sea has beaten me
I'll spend my days on the shore".

Chorus

That awful night in the wind and the rain
We set sail from Killybegs town
There were five of us from sweet Donegal
And one from County Down.
We were fishermen who had worked the sea
and never counted the cost
I never thought e're that night would pass
That all my friends they would be lost.

Chorus: Then the storm it broke and it drove the boat
On the rocks about 10 miles from shore
As we fought the tide, we hoped inside,
To see our homes once more
Then the boat struck a rock and it holed the bow
And all of us we knew she would go down
As we jumped into the icy sea
We prayed to God we wouldn't drown.
But the raging sea was rising still
As we struck out for the land
And she tried with all her cruelty
To drown that gallant band.

At St. John's point in the early morn
I dragged myself on to the shore
And I cursed the sea for what she'd done
And vowed to sail her never more.

Chorus

And since that day, I've been on the road
Traveling and trying to forget
That awful night and the friends I lost
I see their faces yet.
And often at night when the wind is high
The rain is beating on my skin
I hear the cries of drowning men
Born to the harbor on the wind.

Chorus

 

DUBLIN LADY:
If it wasn't for the ships that do sail, that do sail
If it wasn't for the ships that do sail.
Dublin Lady wouldn't have to sit alone upon her stool
If it wasn't for the ships that do sail.

If it wasn't for the butter tubs and coal all in the hold
If it wasn't for the ships that do sail.
Dublin lady wouldn't have to sit alone all in the cold
If it wasn't for the ships that do sail.

If it wasn't for the kegs of beer and cattle in the pen
If it wasn't for the ships that do sail.
Dublin Lady wouldn't miss her sailor laddie now & then
If it wasn't for the ships that do sail.

If it wasn't for the Irish sea, so narrow with no reefs
If it wasn't for the ships that do sail.
Dublin Lady wouldn't have to sit alone all in her grief
If it wasn't for the ships that do sail.

It's because of the Irish sea, so narrow with no reefs
It's because of the ships that do sail.
Dublin Lady has to sit alone and cry all in her grief
It's because of the ships that do sail.

Repeat First verse.

 

FIDDLERS GREEN:
As I walked by the dockyard, one evening so fair.
To view the salt water and take the night air,
I heard an old fisherman, singing a song
Saying "Take me away, boys, my time is not long."

CHORUS
Wrap me up in me oil skins and jumper,
For no more on the docks I'll be seen.
Just tell me old shipmates, I've taken a trip mates
And I'll see them someday, on Fiddler's Green.

Now Fiddler's Green is a place I've heard tell
Where fishermen go, if they don't go to Hell
Where the skies are all clear, and the dolphins do play
And the cold coast of Greenland is far, far away.

Chorus:

Where the skies are clear, and there's never a gale
And the fish jump on board with one swish of their tails.
Where you lie at your leisure, there's no work to do
And the skipper's below, making tea for the crew

Chorus:

Now you're back on the dock and the long journey's through
There's pubs and theirs clubs and there's lassies there too
Where the girls are all pretty, the beer it is free
And there's bottles of rum hanging on every tree.

Chorus:

Now I don't want a harp or a halo. Not me.
Just give me a deck and a soft rolling sea
I'll play me old squeeze box as we sail along
And the wind in the rigging will sing me a song.

Chorus:

 

THE HANDSOME CABIN BOY:
It's of a handsome female, as you may understand,
Who had a mind to rove and go into some foreign land;
She dressed in sailor's clothing, and to the coast did steer,
And engaged with a captain to serve him for one year.

She engaged with the captain, a cabin boy to be,
The wind, it being in favour, they soon put out to sea;
The captain's lady being on board, she seemed in great joy
To see her husband had engaged that handsome cabin boy.

So nimble was this pretty girl, she did her duty well,
But mark what follows after, the story I shall tell;
By eating captain's biscuits her colour did destroy,
And the waist did swell of pretty Nell, the handsome cabin boy.

As through the Bay of Biscay the gallant ship did plough,
One night amongst the sailors there was a pretty row;
They bundled from their hammocks, which did their rest destroy,
And they cursed about the groaning of the handsome cabin boy.

O doctor, O doctor, the cabin boy did cry,
The sailors swore by one and all the cabin boy should die;
The doctor ran with all his might, smiling at the fun,
To think a cabin boy should have a daughter or a son.

O when the sailors heard the joke, they all began to stare,
This child belongs to none of us, they solemnly declared;
The lady to the captain said: ÔOh Sir, I wish you joy,
It was either you or I betrayed the handsome cabin boy.

So let's fill up a bumper and drink success to trade,
And likewise to the cabin boy that's neither man nor maid;
And if the wars should come again old England to destroy,
We shall ship some other sailors like the handsome cabin boy.

 

THE LAST FAREWELL: - Roger Whittaker:
Copyrighted material. Lyrics not available for web publication

 

LEAVE HER, JOHNNY:
I thought I heard the old man say
"Leave Her Johnny, Leave Her,
It's one more turn and you'll get your pay
It's time for us to leave her"

Chorus
Leave her Johnny, Leave Her
Oh-h, Leave her Johnny, Leave her
Oh the voyage is done and the winds don't blow
It's time for us to leave her.

Oh, the work was hard and the wages low
Leave her Johnny, Leave her
Now it's back to shore, the ship must go
It's time for us to leave her.

Chorus

It was rotten meat and weav'lly bread
Leave Her Johnny, Leave Her
Then it's up on deck, mate, to heave the lead
and it's time for us to leave her

Chorus

Now the old pier head is a drawin' nigh
Leave Her Johnny, Leave Her
And I fear it's time to say goodbye
It's time for us to leave her

Chorus

Now the rats have gone and we the crew
Leave Her Johnny, Leave Her
And it's time by God, that you go too,
It's time for us to leave her

Chorus

I thought I heard the old man say
" Leave Her Johnny, Leave Her,
It's one more turn and you'll get your pay
It's time for us to leave her"

Chorus

 

THE MORNING GLORY:
Chorus:
It's one for the Mornng Glory,
two for the early dew
three for the man who will stand his round
four for the love of you, me girl,
four for the love of you....

At the end of the day I like a little drink
to raise up my voice and sing
& an hour or two with a fine brown brew,
& I'm ready for anything
At the Crosskeys Inn there were sisters four,
the landlords daughters fair
& every night when they put out the light,
I would tiptoe up the stairs - singing...

Chorus:

Well , I got the call from foreign shores
to go and fight the foe
& I thought no more of the sisters four -
but, still I was sad to go.
So, I sailed away on a ship,
the Morning Glory was her name
& we'd all fall down when the rum went round,
& we'd get up & start again, singing...

Chorus:

Well, I bore once more for my native shore,
farewelll to the raging seas
And the Crosskeys Inn, it was beckon'n,
& my heart was filled with glee but,
there on the shore were the sisters four
with a bundle upon each knee
there were three little girls
& a bouncing boy
& they all looked just like me, singing...

Chorus:

WHEN THE SHIPYARDS GO BACK ON FULL TIME:
And sure if the news is true
The shop bill's the first thing I'll pay
A new pair of boots and a warm woolen suit
and a tell’e for Maggie, horray.
Me old faded shirt I will throw in the dirt
In a silk one- won't I look in style
And the very first chance
I'll put Davy in pants
when the ship yards go back on full time.

Our troubles are over me woman
For Clancy next door tells me straight
The shipyards go full time on Monday
That's what he says any rate
Sure the boss has just told him this morning
While he was collecting the dole
That a big one is starting in Belfast
and the shipyards are out of the hole

And sure if.....

Mrs. Wilson throw out your old washtub
The laundry will get all our trade
No more picking coal from the gasworks
we'll buy everything ready made
we'll make this job last until Christmas
Then won't we be living in style
put another big spud in the soup pot
for the shipyards are back on full time.

And sure if.....

Shamrocks In The Wind ™ © Copyright 2004