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Donegal Danny

Phil Coulter

I remember the night when he came in
From the wintery cold and damp
A giant of a man in an oilskin coat
And a bundle which told he was a tramp

He stood at the bar and called a pint
And turned and gazed at the fire
On a night like this to be safe and dry
Is my one and only desire

Chorus:
So here's to those that are dead and gone
The friends that I loved dear
And here's to you then I'll bid you adieu
Saying Donegal Danny's been here me boys,
Donegal Danny's been here

Then in a voice that was hushed and low
He said listen I'll tell you a tale
How a man of the sea became a man of the road
And never more will set sail

I've fished out of Howth and Killybegs,
Ardglass and Baltimore
But the cruel sea has beaten me
And I'll end my days on the shore

(Chorus)

One fateful 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 worked the sea
And never counted the cost
But I never thought 'ere that night was done
That my true friends would all be lost

(Chorus)

Then the storm it broke and drove the boat
To the rocks about ten miles from shore,
As we fought the tide we hoped inside
To see our homes once more

Then we struck a rock and holed the boat
And all of us knew that she'd go down
So we jumped right into the icy sea
And prayed to God we wouldn't drown

(Chorus)

But the raging sea was rising still
As we struck out for the land
And she fought with all her cruelty
To claim that gallant band

By St John's point in the early morn
I dragged myself to the shore
And I cursed the sea for what she'd done
And vowed to sail her nevermore

(Chorus)

Ever since that night I've been on the road
Travelling and trying to forget
That awful night I lost all my friends
I see their faces yet

And often at night when the sea is high
And the rain is tearing at my skin
I hear the cries of drowning men
Floating ever on the wind

(2x Chorus)

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