I remember the night that he came in from the wintery cold and damp
A giant of a man in an oilskin coat, as a bundle that told he wasn't cramp
He stood at the bar and he called a pint, then turned and gazed at the fire
On a night like this, to be save and dry is my one and only desire

Chorus:

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 Sayin' "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 road and never more will set sail
I fished down (of) Howth and Killybegs, Ardglass and Baltimore
But the cruel sea has beat'n me and I'll end my days on the shore

(Chorus)

One fateful night in the wind and the rain we set sail from Killybeg's 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 gone, that my fine friends would all be lost

(Chorus)

Then the storm it broke and broke the boat, with 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 hold 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 ragin' sea was risin' still as we strook out for the land
And she fought with all her cruelty to claim that gallant men
By Saint John's pint in the early dawn I dragged myself off t' shore
And I cursed the sea for what she'd done and vowed to sail her never more

(Chorus)

Ever since that night I've been on the road, travelin' and tryin' 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 us by skin
I hear the cries of drowning men, floating over on the wind

(Chorus)

Performed by The Dubliners. Written by Counter/Martin.