Fare thee well, my lovely Darlin’,
A thousand times adieu.
We are saying goodbye to the Holy Ground
And the ones that we love true.
We’ll sail the salt seas over

And then return to shore
To see again the ones we love
And the Holy Ground once more.

Now when we're out a sailing
And you are far behind
Fine letters I will write to you
With the secrets of my mind,
And the secrets of my mind, my love,

You're the one that I adore,
And still I live in hope to see
The Holy Ground once more.

I see the storm arising
And it’s coming quick and soon
The night’s so dark and cloudy,
You can scarcely see the moon,
And the good old ship is tossing about

And the riggings is all tore.
And still I live in hope to see
The Holy Ground once more.

And now the storm is over
And we are safe on shore
We’ll drink a toast to the Holy Ground
And the ones that we adore
We’ll drink strong ale and porter

And we'll make the rafters roar,
And when our money is all spent
We will go to sea once more.

You're the love that I adore,
And still I live in hope to see
The Holy Ground once more.

The Irish lyrics are to the tune of "Old Swansea Town Once More". The "Holy Ground" is a quarter of Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland, which was inhabited mainly by fisherman. The tune is also referred to as The Cobh Sea Shanty. It was popular on the docks of Cork and Cobh as well as on the ships. The tune was originally a capstan shanty - a song sung as sailors turned the capstan to raise the anchor.

On Alex’s Ireland tour, we spent a few hours one Sunday morning in the town of Cobh.  It was a quiet morning and we had some time to wander on our on. Little did I know I was within about four blocks of The Holy Ground.

FFrom the Sea to the Shore

FMake and Break Harbour

Looking east
across Kennedy
Park to The
Holy Ground,
Cobh, Co. Cork