Fiddler's Green Lyrics
The New BarleycornMusic Video
Fiddler's Green
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
Song Details
🎶 Songwriter: John Conolly - This version of the song is an adaptation written in 1966, and recorded by several artists since, with some lyrical changes along the way.
📝 Song Brief: Told through the voice of an ageing fisherman, the song imagines a sailor’s afterlife where the seas are calm, the dolphins play, the beer is free, dancers never tire, and music never ends. The song blends gentle humour with a sense of nostalgia as an old fisherman imagines a peaceful rest beyond the hardships of life at sea.
References to Fiddler’s Green appear as early as 1832, where it was described in maritime folklore as a sailors’ afterlife reserved for those who had served fifty years or more, complete with endless rum and tobacco. Over time, the legend has found its way into songs, poems, novels, and comic books.
🍀 Genre: Irish Folk Song
👥 Covers: The Dubliners, The Irish Rovers, Liam Clancy, The Wolfetones.
🎤 Featured Artists - 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.
💿 Album: Sing Irishmen Sing
Released: 1998
Country: US
Format: CD, Album
Label: Not On Label (Self-released)
🎸 If you'd like to play this song on guitar, you can view the chord version on our sister site, BellandCoMusic.com.
