Ronnie Drew singing The Dunes

[James]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5UH3Iik8Jg

A great song which I'd never heard before.

A bit of instrumentation wouldn't go amiss, but Ronnie Drew really doesn't need it.

[Irish Rover]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5UH3Iik8Jg

A great song which I'd never heard before.

A bit of instrumentation wouldn't go amiss, but Ronnie Drew really doesn't need it.

I am pretty sure this clip is taken from The Great Hunger documentary about Shane.

[Michaelo]

I am pretty sure this clip is taken from The Great Hunger documentary about Shane.

I agree. Ronnie Drew recorded two versions of this song that I know off (excluding this one). The best one, in my opinion, is on "The Humour Is On Me Now".
This is surely one of Shane's greatest lyrics. If only there was a Pogues version of the song.

[Irish Rover]

If only there was a Pogues version of the song.

Wishful thinking, eh ??

[CraigBatty]

I've only ever heard it on Jah Wobble's "Invaders Of The Heart - The Celtic Poets" - great songs.

[Mark_Wafc]

I agree. Ronnie Drew recorded two versions of this song that I know off (excluding this one). The best one, in my opinion, is on "The Humour Is On Me Now".

Is this version just Ronnie singing, as with the version on the Great Hunger or does it contain any music?

[Tombstoneshoes]

Damn I've been trying to hear this song since I read the lyrics in 'A drink with Shane Macgowan'. I'd always thought it was a rare track recorded by the pogues and since the lyrics are obviously so amazing I'd been searching for this song for ages.

Weird though, I'd always given it a completley different tune in my head. I imagined it as more of a Tom Waits style dark growling song but it's actually quite a beautiful melody. I would also love to hear it with instrumentation though.

I lost my copy of the book though so I can't check but I think I recall Shane saying that he used to go down to those dunes with a few kids and kick through to the bones. Is that right or am I just talking crap ??? If that's right does that mean these things are still there ?? I would've imagined that the bones would be too far underground by now to find.

[Michaelo]

I agree. Ronnie Drew recorded two versions of this song that I know off (excluding this one). The best one, in my opinion, is on "The Humour Is On Me Now".

Is this version just Ronnie singing, as with the version on the Great Hunger or does it contain any music?

No, it's not just him. It features the following line up:
Bodhran: Ivan Smith, Viola: Maire Breatnach, Drones: Mike Hanrahan, Voice: Ronnie Drew. The music is subtle and compliments his voice/the song well- I recommend it.
The other version I have by Drew features some merry sounding fiddle between the verses which, in my opinion, sounds totally inappropriate for the song.

[Shant on]

Worth watching another film there on youtube called "Ronnie Drew of the Dubliners in Howth".

If I knew how to do it I'd do one of those linky things, but I wouldnt have the first idea how to do it.

[Zuzana]

I lost my copy of the book though so I can't check but I think I recall Shane saying that he used to go down to those dunes with a few kids and kick through to the bones. Is that right or am I just talking crap ???

From a 2003 interview with Shane:

"You have written a lot of songs about London, can you tell me about the song you wrote about Ireland and the Famine, the one you gave to Ronnie Drew?"

"SMacG: '…….well they are gone now, the dunes, they got blown in a storm a few years back…….when I wrote the song they were still there though…..they are in Mayo…..right in the bleakest part……they didn't have any earth, they had rocks and sand, where they had to bury the dead in the famine…..yeah?......I had a friend up there and …..ah… me and some other friends went up there visiting and stuff, you know?, years ago, when I was about 14 or so yeah? …….and we went to the dunes right?.....well there are plenty of family graves around here (Tipperary) and everywhere in Ireland yeah?.........but it was particularly horrific……we were all a bit pissed and stoned and 'codding' about a bit……..we got up on the dunes and these bones fell out - which I've seen before too, right?...........then we started to get that feeling of panic……sort of voice inside saying "go away - fuck off !"……and we fucking ran like hell…….well we froze first and then ran like hell……..I mean it was probably more scary for the people that were under the dunes……./laughs/……it was one of those things that stunned us. It was one of the grimmest places I've been….and the bleakest feelings I've had yeah? ….I used to think about it a lot…….you know what I mean? And I ended up writing a song about a guy who comes back…who survived the famine....and sees the bailiff and the landlord…..and goes drinking in Westport yeah! /laughs/'"

[Tombstoneshoes]

I lost my copy of the book though so I can't check but I think I recall Shane saying that he used to go down to those dunes with a few kids and kick through to the bones. Is that right or am I just talking crap ???

From a 2003 interview with Shane:

"You have written a lot of songs about London, can you tell me about the song you wrote about Ireland and the Famine, the one you gave to Ronnie Drew?"
'"

Ah thanks alot, So I wasn't just talking crap. Nnnnice, although I did always think that the dunes was a pogues song even though it states he gave it to ronnie drew so I am a stupid dick for that. Life finds a way of balancing itself out.

[jacksheroes]

One of Shane's most passionate and beautiful songs that was never to my knowledge recorded. I know Ronnie Drew has himself sang it before, but other that that I can't think of any other recording. A touching and moving song about the great famine in Ireland in 1840s. My ancestors from County Cork, were forced to come to America when the famine hit, so in essence the song really struck a chord with me.

[Mick Molloy]

Does actually anyone have the lyrics of this? I need to recite a poem/song and this would be suitable

[Christine]

The Dunes
Shane MacGowan

I walked today on the cold grey shore
Where I watched when I was much younger
When they built the dunes upon the sand
For the dead from the great hunger
For the dead from the great hunger

Although I was a doctor's son
I gazed in fear and wonder
As they perished from the raging plague
That came in with the great hunger
That came in with the great hunger

When I watched at the age of four
In eighteen forty seven
The mounds they built upon the shore
They seemed to point to heaven
They seemed to point to heaven

The wind and the rain, they worked their way
The dunes they are all uneven
The children kicked the sand around
And the bones they are revealed then
And the bones they are revealed then

My brothers and my sisters died
My mother only four and twenty
And I alone survived to see
The potatoes growing plenty
The potatoes growing plenty

As we died in vain, they stole our grain
To put upon their tables
The dieing covered the dead with sand
And danced while they were able
And danced while they were able

When the fiddler played we drank poteen
Then ate the last of the berries
Then knelt and said the rosary
'Round the mounds of dead we buried
'Round the mounds of dead we buried

I saw dark shadows rise up from the sand
And dance all around the dunes
They danced the rattling dance of the dead
To a set of mournful tunes
To a set of mournful tunes

A crack of lightning split the sky
The rain on the dunes it poured
I left them lying where I'd shot them down
The bailiff and the landlord
Then I went for a drink in Westport

I walked today on the cold grey shore
Where I watched when I was much younger
When they built the dunes upon the sand
For the dead from the great hunger
For the dead from the great hunger

I can't remember now but presumably got them from The Parting Glass site. One of my all-time favourites.

[Christine]

And a variation - don't know where that came from:

The Dunes

IT'S TRUE I WAS A DOCTOR'S SON
AND YET I GAZED IN WONDER
AS WE PERISHED FROM THE RAGING PLAGUE
THAT CAME WITH THE GREAT HUNGER
THAT CAME WITH THE GREAT HUNGER

I TRAVELLED TO THE WESTERN SHORE
SAW HUGE MOUNDS BUILT OF SAND THERE
FULL OF ROTTING BODIES OF SOULS
THAT DIED FROM THE GREAT HUNGER
THAT DIED FROM THE GREAT HUNGER

I SAW DEAD WOMEN IN THE DITCHES
WITH BABIES ONE OR YOUNGER
POISON BERRIES IN THEIR MOUTHS
TO TRY TO ESCAPE THE HUNGER
TO TRY TO ESCAPE THE HUNGER

BRITANNIA'S WHORES TOOK ALL OUR GRAIN
TO PUT BREAD ON THEIR TABLES
WHILE WALKING SKELETONS CRAWLED TO THE BOATS
TO ESCAPE IF THEY WERE ABLE
TO ESCAPE IF THEY WERE ABLE

I SAW THEM SCURRYING ON THE BOATS
PANICKING AND FRANTIC
YET MOST OF THEM THEY PERISHED STILL
TRYING TO CROSS THE BROAD ATLANTIC
TRYING TO CROSS THE BROAD ATLANTIC.