Lyrics

The Holy Ground (Once More)/The Cobh Sea Shanty

Fare thee well my lovely Dinah
A thousand times adieu
For we’re going away from the Holy Ground
And the girls that we all love
We will sail the salt seas over
And we’ll return for sure
To see again the girls we love
And the Holy Ground once more
(Fine girl you are!)

Chorus
You’re the girl I do adore
And still I live in hope to see
The Holy Ground once more
(Fine girl you are!)

And now the storm is ragin’
And we are far from shore
And this good old ship is tossing about
And the riggin is all tore
And the secret of my mind love,
To the girl I do adore
And still I live in hopes to see
the Holy Ground once more.
(Fine girl you are!) (Chorus)

And now the storm is over
And we are safe and well
We will go into a public house
And we will drink our fill
We will drink strong ales and porter
And make the rafters roar
And when our money is all spent
We’ll go to sea once more
(Fine girl you are!) (Chorus)

Song Notes

This is an Irish version of a Welsh tune, “Old Swansea Town Once More.” The “Holy Ground” was a poor quarter of Cobh, inhabited mainly by fishermen. It is sometimes called “The Cobh Sea Shanty.”   One would do well to read more about this interesting and unique sea shanty in Stan Hugill’s Shanties from the Seven Seas.