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Donegal Danny

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Cmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

Capo on 2nd fret.
(This song sounds best played with a capo on the 2nd fret (as I believe the Dubliners played it),
but the chords can be all played in first position as follows)
C=D
F=G
Am=Bm
G= A
[Intro]
C G Am C G C
[Verse 1
I reCmember the night that Fhe came Cin from the wintFery cold and dCamp.
A giant of a man in an Amoilskin coat and the bFundle that told he was a tGramp.
He stCood at the bar and he caFlled a pCint then tFurned and gazed at the fCire.
On a night like this to be sAmafe and dry is my oFne and only desiGre.
[Chorus]
So hCere's to those who are dFead and gCone.
The friends that I loved Gdear.
And Chere's to you and I'll bFid you adCieu.
Sayin' Donegal GDanny's been Chere me Amboys CDonegal GDanny's been Chere.
[Verse 2]
TChen in a voice that was huFshed and lCow said lFisten I'll tell you a tCale.
How a man of the sea became a Amman of the road and nFever more will set saGil.
I fCished out at Howth and KFillybCegs ArdglFass and BaltimCore.
But the cruel sea has beAmaten me and I'll enFd my days on the shGore.
[Chorus]
So hCere's to those who are dFead and gCone.
The friends that I loved Gdear.
And Chere's to you and I'll bFid you adCieu.
Sayin' Donegal GDanny's been Chere me Amboys CDonegal GDanny's been Chere.
[Verse 3]
One fCateful night in the wFind and the rCain we set sFail from Killybegs Ctown.
There was five of us from sweet AmDonegal and oFne from County GDown.
We were fCishermen who woFrked the Csea and nFever counted the cCost 
But I never thought ere' that Amnight was done that Fmy fine friends would all be Glost.
[Chorus]
So hCere's to those who are dFead and gCone.
The friends that I loved Gdear.
And Chere's to you and I'll bFid you adCieu.
Sayin' Donegal GDanny's been Chere me Amboys CDonegal GDanny's been Chere.
[Verse 4]
Then the Cstorm it broke and dFrove the Cboat on the rFocks about ten miles from Cshore.
As we fought the tide we Amhoped inside to Fsee our homes once mGore.
Then Cwe struck a rock and hFoled the bCow and aFll of us knew she'd go dCown.
So we jumped right in to the Amicy sea and prFayed to god we wouldn't drGown.
But the rCaging sea was Frising sCtill as Fwe struck out for the lCand
and she fought with all her cAmruelty to claFim that gallant baGnd
By CSt. Johns point in the earFly dCawn I drFagged myself on the shCore.
And I cursed the sea for wAmhat she'd done vFowed to sail her never mGore.
[Chorus]
So hCere's to those who are dFead and gCone.
The friends that I loved Gdear.
And Chere's to you and I'll bFid you adCieu.
Sayin' Donegal GDanny's been Chere me Amboys CDonegal GDanny's been Chere.
[Verse 5]
CEver since that night I've been Fon the roCad tFravelling and trying to forgCet.
That awful night I lost Amall me friends I Fsee their faces yGet.
And oCften at night when the sFea is Chigh and the rFain is tearing at my sCkin.
I can hear the cries of dAmrowning men fFloating over on the wGind.
[Chorus] x2
So hCere's to those who are dFead and gCone.
The friends that I loved Gdear.
And Chere's to you and I'll bFid you adCieu.
Sayin' Donegal GDanny's been Chere me Amboys CDonegal GDanny's been Chere.

All chords in this song (4)

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Donegal Danny

by The Dubliners

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 2 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Capo on 2nd fret.

(This song sounds best played with a capo on the 2nd fret (as I believe the Dubliners played it),

but the chords can be all played in first position as follows)

C=D

F=G

Am=Bm

G= A

[Intro]

C G Am C G C

[Verse 1

C F C F C

I remember the night that he came in from the wintery cold and damp.

Am F G

A giant of a man in an oilskin coat and the bundle that told he was a tramp.

C F C F C

He stood at the bar and he called a pint then turned and gazed at the fire.

Am F G

On a night like this to be safe and dry is my one and only desire.

[Chorus]

C F C

So here's to those who are dead and gone.

The friends that I loved dear.

C F C

And here's to you and I'll bid you adieu.

G C Am C G C

Sayin' Donegal Danny's been here me boys Donegal Danny's been here.

[Verse 2]

C F C F C

Then in a voice that was hushed and low said listen I'll tell you a tale.

Am F G

How a man of the sea became a man of the road and never more will set sail.

C F C F C

I fished out at Howth and Killybegs Ardglass and Baltimore.

Am F G

But the cruel sea has beaten me and I'll end my days on the shore.

[Chorus]

C F C

So here's to those who are dead and gone.

The friends that I loved dear.

C F C

And here's to you and I'll bid you adieu.

G C Am C G C

Sayin' Donegal Danny's been here me boys Donegal Danny's been here.

[Verse 3]

C F C F C

One fateful night in the wind and the rain we set sail from Killybegs town.

Am F G

There was five of us from sweet Donegal and one from County Down.

C F C F C

We were fishermen who worked the sea and never counted the cost

Am F G

But I never thought ere' that night was done that my fine friends would all be lost.

[Chorus]

C F C

So here's to those who are dead and gone.

The friends that I loved dear.

C F C

And here's to you and I'll bid you adieu.

G C Am C G C

Sayin' Donegal Danny's been here me boys Donegal Danny's been here.

[Verse 4]

C F C F C

Then the storm it broke and drove the boat on the rocks about ten miles from shore.

Am F G

As we fought the tide we hoped inside to see our homes once more.

C F C F C

Then we struck a rock and holed the bow and all of us knew she'd go down.

Am F G

So we jumped right in to the icy sea and prayed to god we wouldn't drown.

C F C F C

But the raging sea was rising still as we struck out for the land

Am F G

and she fought with all her cruelty to claim that gallant band

C F C F C

By St. Johns point in the early dawn I dragged myself on the shore.

Am F G

And I cursed the sea for what she'd done vowed to sail her never more.

[Chorus]

C F C

So here's to those who are dead and gone.

The friends that I loved dear.

C F C

And here's to you and I'll bid you adieu.

G C Am C G C

Sayin' Donegal Danny's been here me boys Donegal Danny's been here.

[Verse 5]

C F C F C

Ever since that night I've been on the road travelling and trying to forget.

Am F G

That awful night I lost all me friends I see their faces yet.

C F C F C

And often at night when the sea is high and the rain is tearing at my skin.

Am F G

I can hear the cries of drowning men floating over on the wind.

[Chorus] x2

C F C

So here's to those who are dead and gone.

The friends that I loved dear.

C F C

And here's to you and I'll bid you adieu.

G C Am C G C

Sayin' Donegal Danny's been here me boys Donegal Danny's been here.

About Donegal Danny Chords by The Dubliners

Learn how to play Donegal Danny by The Dubliners with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Donegal Danny chords”, “Donegal Danny guitar chords”, or “The Dubliners Donegal Danny chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Donegal Danny chords and for experienced players who want accurate Donegal Danny lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, D, F, G, Am, Bm.

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The chords for "Donegal Danny" show the original chord names (including C, D, F, G, Am, Bm). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.