The boys of Kilibegs
1. There are wild and rocky hills on the coast
of Donegal,
A
and their fishermen are hardy, brave and free.
D C G D
And
the big Atlantic swell is the thing they know right well,
A D
as they fight to make a living from the sea.
With a pleasant rolling sea, and the herring
running free,
A
and the fleet all gliding gently through the foam,
D A D G D
when the boats are loaded down, there’ll be singing in the town,
A D
when the boys of Kilibegs come rolling home.
2. Well, you don your rubber boats, and you’ve
got your oilskins on,
A
and you check your gear to see that it’s okay.
D
C G D
And
your jumper keeps you warm, for it’s cold before the dawn ,
A D
and you’re ready to begin another day. + CHORUS
3. Now you’re headed out to sea, and the wind is
blowing free,
A
and you cast your nets as rain begins to fall.
D
C G D
But
the sun comes rising high and the clouds will soon get by,
A D
and today you’ll maybe take a bumper haul. + CHORUS
4. When the weather’s blowing rough, then the
work is very tough,
A
and the ropes would raise the welts upon your hands.
D C G D
But
you’ll never leave the sea, for whoever you may be,
A D
when it’s in your blood it’s hard to live on land. + CHORUS
4. Well, there’s purple on the hills, and it’s green down by the shore,
A
and the sun has spilled its gold upon the sea,
D
C G D
and it’s silver down below, where the herring fishes go,
A D
when we catch them we’ll have gold for you and me.
+ CHORUS + when the boys of Kilibegs come rolling
home.