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Fiddler's Green lyrics

The New Barleycorn

As I walked by the dockside one evening so fair
To view the salt water and take the sea air
I heard an old fisherman singing a song,
Won't you take me away boys, my time is not long

Chorus:
Lock me up in me oilskins and jumper
No more on the docks I'll be seen
Just tell me old shipmates I'm taking a trip mates
And I'll see you someday in Fiddler's Green

Now Fiddler's Green is a place I heard tell
Where the 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 all clear and there's never a gale
And the fish jump on board with a 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:

When you get on the docks and the long trip is through
There's pubs and there's clubs and there's lassies there too
Where the girls are all pretty and the beer it is free
And there's bottles of rum growing from every tree

Chorus:

Now I don't want a harp not a halo, not me
Just give me a breeze and a good rolling sea
And I'll play me old squeeze-box as we sail along
With the wind in the riggin' to sing me a song

Chorus:

Song Details

Fiddler's Green
Fiddlers Green

Composer: John Conolly

Brief: Legend has it that Fiddler's Green refers to the afterlife where there is eternal happiness, the fiddle plays constantly and dancers never tire. References have been made about Fiddler's Green as far back as 1832. It was used in maritime folklore where it was considered an afterlife for sailors who had served for 50 years or more, giving them ample supplies of rum and tobacco. It has also been used in various songs, poems, comic books and novels.

An adaptation of Fiddler's Green has been used in a song by the same name written by English songwriter John Connoly in 1968, and has been recorded by several artists since with some lyrical changes along the way.

The New Barleycorn: Originated from Counties Dublin and Down, Ireland. Members consist of John Delaney - the original member of Barleycorn, and Alec DeGabriele from The Shannon Players. This line-up have been performing since 2009 with music styles including Celtic folk, ballads, airs and love songs... thenewbarleycorn.com.

Covers: The Dubliners, The Irish Rovers, Liam Clancy, The Wolfetones.

Album: Sing Irishmen Sing which is available on their website.

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