I remember the night that he came in
from the wintry cold and damp.
A giant of a man in an oilskin coat
and a bundle that told he was a tramp
He stood at the bar and he called a pint,
then turned and gazed at the fire.
"On a night like this to be safe and dry,
is my one and only desire."
So here's to those that are dead and gone,
the friends that I loved dear.
And here's to you and 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 roads,
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."
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 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.
Then 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 gallant band.
By St John's Point in the early dawn,
I dragged myself on 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,
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 over on the wind'.