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Donegal Danny

from Live Bait by SaltyPaws

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about

An Irish traditional song about fishing, ship wrecks, death. And very happy too!

lyrics

I remember the night that he came in from the wintery cold and the damp
A giant of a man in an oilskin coat, and a bundle that showed he was a tramp.
He stood at the bar and called for a pint and turned to gaze into the fire.
"On a night like this to be safe and warm is my one and only desire."

Chorus:
Here's to those that are dead and gone; to my friends that I have met here, and here's to you and I'll bid you adieu, singing Donegal Danny was here, me boys, singing Donegal Danny was 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 me days on the shore

One fateful night in the wind and the rain we set sail from Killybeys 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 thoughtt 'ere that night was done that my fine friends would all be lost.

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
Than we struck a rock and holed the bow 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.

But the raging sea was rising still as we struck out for the land
And she fought with all her cruelty to claim that brilliant band
By St John's Point in the early dawn I dragged myself to the shore
And I cursed the sea for what she'd done and vowed to sail her never more.

Ever since that night I've been on the road traveling 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 the rain tearing at me skin
I hear the cries of drowning men floating on the wind.

credits

from Live Bait, released November 13, 2015

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SaltyPaws Punta Gorda, Florida

When you think of wandering minstrels, do you ever think they might live on a boat? SaltyPaws is a sailing acoustic duo, living aboard their catamaran, sailing and singing the Atlantic eastern seaboard. You'll hear guitar and 5 string banjo, spiced with harmonica and concertina. Wherever the boat is in port, you'll find Bentley and Jim joining a jam, at an open mic, or busking a street corner. ... more

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