Donegal Danny

D G D

1. I remember the night that he came in

G D

from the wintry cold and damp.

h

A giant of a man in an oilskin coat

G A

and a bundle that told he was a tramp

D G D

He stood at the bar and he called a pint,

G D

then turned and gazed at the fire.

h

"On a night like this to be safe and dry,

G A

is my one and only desire."

D G D

So here's to those that are dead and gone,

Bm A

the friends that I loved dear.

D G D

And here's to you and I'll bid you adieu,

A D Bm

saying Donegal Danny's been here me boys,

D A D

Donegal Danny's been here.

D G D

2. Then in a voice that was hushed and low,

G D

he said 'Listen I'll tell you a tale,

Bm

how a man of the sea became a man of the roads,

G A

and never more will set sail.

D G D G D

I've fished out of Howth and Killybegs, Ardglass and Baltimore.

Bm

But the cruel sea has beaten me,

G A

and I'll end my days on the shore." + CHORUS

D G D

3. One fateful night in the wind and the rain,

G D

we set sail from Killybegs town.

Bm

There were five of us from sweet Donegal,

G A

and one from County Down.

D G D

We were fishermen who worked the sea,

G D

and never counted the cost.

Bm

But I never thought ere that night was done,

G A

that my fine friends would all be lost. + CHORUS

D G D

4. Then the storm it broke and drove the boat,

G D

to the rocks about ten miles from shore.

Bm

As we fought the tide we hoped inside,

G A

to see our homes once more.

D G D

Then we struck a rock and holed the bow,

G D

and all of us knew that she'd go down.

Bm

So we jumped right into the icy sea,

G A

and prayed to God we wouldn't drown.

D G D

5. But the raging sea was rising still,

G D

as we struck out for the land.

Bm

And she fought with all her cruelty,

G A

to claim that gallant band.

D G D

By St John's Point in the early dawn,

G D

I dragged myself on the shore.

Bm

And I cursed the sea for what she'd done,

G A

and vowed to sail her never more. + CHORUS

D G D

6. Ever since that night I've been on the road,

G D

travelling and trying to forget,

Bm G A

that awful night I lost all my friends, I see their faces yet.

D G D

And often at night when the sea is high,

G D

and the rain is tearing at my skin,

Bm

I hear the cries of drowning men,

G A A

floating over on the wind'. + CHORUS + So! + CHORUS

(Dubliners)