Ronnie Drew singing The Dunes

[SLUGZ]

on ronnies l.p"dirty rotten shame" there is the track "the dunes" with a band backing him,pipes,drums,ect...the l.p is on columbia(the lable not the powder)

[gimphead]

anyone got them PM me pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Zuzana]

As long as "words" is just a simple request for lyrics and not some code name, I guess it can be dealt with even in a public place.

The Dunes

I walked today on the cold grey shore
where I watched when I was much younger
while 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 from the Great Hunger
that came in from 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.

But the wind and the rain they have worked away.
Now the dunes are uneven
and the children kick the sand around
and the bones they are revealed then
and the bones they are revealed then.

My brothers and sisters died.
My mother only four and twenty
and I alone survived to see
the potatoes grow in plenty
the potatoes grow in plenty.

They stole our grain as we died in pain
to put upon their tables.
The dying covered the dead with sand
and danced while they were able
and danced while they were able.

While the fiddler played we drank poitin
and ate the last of the berries.
Then knelt and said the rosary
round the mounds of dead we'd buried
round the mounds of dead we'd buried.

I saw dark shadows rise up from the sand
and dance all around the dunes
and they danced the rattling dance of the dead
to a set of mournful tunes
to a set of mournful tunes.

A crack of lightening split the sky.
The rain on the dunes it poured.
I left them lying where I 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
while they built the dunes upon the sand
for the dead from the Great Hunger
for the dead from the Great Hunger.

[paddys pistol]

check this out

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

a video for the dunes

[Gurrier]

I saw dark shadows rise up from the sand
and dance all around the dunes
and they danced the rattling dance of the dead
to a set of mournful tunes
to a set of mournful tunes.

I just got goosebumps and my house make a night settling creak the second I read the first line to this verse that made me jump a little out of my seat.

Amazing lyrics, but I don't think I even have to point this out do I

[Niall]

brilliant lyrics

[Simon Maguire]

If their was one man to sing apart from Shane it fits Ronnie's voice very well.

[Cornish Andy]

But if Shane were to record a version a new Pogues album would be a fine home for it...

[Simon Maguire]

But if Shane were to record a version a new Pogues album would be a fine home for it...

Of Course goes without saying.

[Paddy Rolling Clone]

GREAT lyric. Heard some great versions. Zuzana linked to a good one in the covers thread.

[nboldock]

The Si Mhor version, I have it. It is genuinely brilliant. Better than Ronnie's version, IMHO.

[pogues24]

I love the song The Dunes, it's an extremely sad and moving song. I connected with it in a way because some of my family from Cork, were forced to come over to America when the Great famine hit Ireland.

Iain

[Zuzana]

The Si Mhor version, I have it.

Just for those interested in hearing it, the link is here. (Scroll all the way down to the very end.)

[Guest]

Apologies for reviving such an ancient thread, but there IS another version of "The Dunes"...

I have a version by a Russian folk band called Si Mhor (they used to play Irish folk - I believe they are now defunct) - it's a cracking version, heavy on the bodhran... sadly though, I can't remember where the hell I got it from (it's just an MP3).

Worth seeking it, for sure.

[Guest]

Apologies for reviving such an ancient thread, but there IS another version of "The Dunes"...

I have a version by a Russian folk band called Si Mhor (they used to play Irish folk - I believe they are now defunct) - it's a cracking version, heavy on the bodhran... sadly though, I can't remember where the hell I got it from (it's just an MP3).

Worth seeking it, for sure.

Ignore this... for some reason I only saw part of the thread. I'm an idiot.