Ronnie Drew - The Dubliners - The Sea Around Us

song about h2o

THE SEA AROUND US

They say that the lakes of Killarney are fair
No stream like the Liffey could ever compare,
If its water you want, you'll get nothing more rare
Than the stuff they make down by the ocean.

Chorus:
The sea, oh the sea is the gradh geal mo croide
Long may it stay between England and me
It's a sure guarantee that some hour we'll be free
Thank God we're surrounded by water.

Tom Moore made his "Waters" meet fame and renown
A great lover of anything dressed in a crown
In brandy the bandy auld Saxon he'd drown
But throw ne'er a one in the ocean.

The Danes came to Ireland with nothing to do
But dream of the plundered auld Irish they'd slew,
"Yeh will in yer Vikings" said Brian Boru
And threw them back into the ocean.

The Scots have their Whisky, the Welsh have their speech
Their poets are paid about ten pence a week
Provided no hard words of England they speak
Oh Lord, what a price for devotion.

Two foreign old monarchs in battle did join
Each wanting his head on the back of a coin
If the Irish had sense they'd drowned both in the Boyne
And partition thrown into the ocean.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• dubliners
• irish
• rebel
• song
• sea
• around
• us
• ireland
• éire

[balmainguy]

Its a geographical reference, not a political one. Tying to promote division and excise all references to what is a shared history, the good and the bad, does nobody any favours. Its as bad as the language fascists trying to force Gaelic on us.

I love this song and grew up singing it. But my father always told me we were just poking fun at the English, and that's how I still think of it today.

[TomBarry192I]

@balmainguy I doubt you have any complaints about the english language facsists who forced their language on us. How is Ireland geographically British? That would be like saying Britain is geographically a French isle.

[balmainguy]

@TomBarry192I I have no complaints as it wasn't forced on "us". It happened before my grandparents were born. So I relegate it to history and it has no bearing on my life. But you are unlikely to be persuaded by this. You'll spend your life dwelling on past injustices, perceived insults like the Queen's visit, and which of your compatriots are sellouts for not agreeing with you. Life though, is infinitely better when you're prepared to look for what is good about it.... Good luck to you.

[TomBarry192I]

@balmainguy The English language was forced on the Irish people. I spend my life resisting a current injustice, british rule in Ireland. Would British people invite the head of state of Germany if it invaded and occupied part of England? Too many people roll over and lie down like you.

[EdPBrowne]

None of us Brits want Northern Ireland. Too bad a narrow majority of adults there want to cling on to being British (whatever that means).

[neilhosey]

the sea is the love of my heart

[downgekell]

@EdPBrowne umm...port of Belfast? Economic power? more taxpayers?

[balmainguy]

Sorry, but you are an embarrassment to the vast majority of "real" Irish people. Don't take my word for it though, just look at how few people turned out to protest the Queen's visit to Ireland.

With regards to Australia, its ironic that your profile lists you as "from Galway but living in Sydney, working in construction. There is a very good reason you are working in construction.

[irishmanandproud]

@balmainguy ireland is one of the british isles???? what planet are you on,, ? austrailia is more of a british country than ireland is,, yeer still part of the commonwealth,, ya say your from dublin ,,call urself bailmain guy,, ya dont have a clue what ur on about,, talking shite,, up ireland ,,up the ra, up tom barry and f,uck u

[TomBarry192I]

@balmainguy Can you explain to me what makes the island of Ireland British?

[balmainguy]

@TomBarry192I I'm from Dublin and am far from being a monarchist. Australia is my home now but it doesn't change where I'm from and where I was raised. I just don't like people being divisive and pedantic for no good reason and I agree wholeheartedly with the comment Bigwullie1 left you.

I would feel the same if the British wanted to change the name of the Irish Sea to the English Sea.

[TomBarry192I]

@balmainguy The people of Ireland are the only ones who can determine what their island is and it aint british. You're an australian monarchist, not a Dub. And if you were you're a west Brit.