Holy Ground
The Dubliners with Luke Kelly Lyrics
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Adieu to you my Dinah a thousand times adieu
We`re going away from the Holy Ground and the girls that we love true
We will sail the South sea over and then return for sure
To see again the girls we love and the Holy Ground once more
Chorus:
Fine girl you are! Your`re the girl that I adore
See the storm a-rising I see it coming soon,
And the sky it is so cloudy you can scarcely see the moon.
And the good old ship, she was tossing about,
The riggin`was all tore, and still I live with hopes to see, The Holy ground once more.
And now the storm it is over and we are safe on shore,
We will drink a toast to the Holy Ground and the girls that we adore.
We will drink strong ale and porter and make the rafters roar,
And when our money is all spent we`ll go to sea for more.
The Dubliners' "The Holy Ground" is a classic folk song about sailors who must leave the women they love on land to face the perils of the sea. The lyrics describe the men's feeling of sadness as they set out to sail the South Seas, leaving behind the "Holy Ground" and their "girls that they love true." It's a mournful melody that captures the hopeful anticipation and deep love that these sailors feel.
The song primarily consists of two verses, both of which resonate with a sense of wistful longing for home and hope to see their beloved ones again. The first verse describes their departure from the Holy Ground and the women they adore, highlighting the difficulty of leaving behind their beloved ones. The chorus conveys the sailor's admiration for the women they love and desire to see them once more.
The second verse is more ominous as it talks about how they see a storm rising, and the sky is overcast, which emphasizes that the sailors' journey might not be a smooth one. The chorus here highlights the hope that their journey does not face any significant obstacles, and they return safely to their loved ones. The final verse talks about their safe arrival on shore, reiterating the sailors' love and admiration for the Holy Ground and the women they love.
Overall, the song perfectly captures the emotions of sailors regarding their desire to sail the world and the difficulty of leaving behind their loved ones, creating a wistful atmosphere around the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Fine girl you are!
Complimenting a girl's beauty
Adieu to you my Dinah a thousand times adieu
Saying goodbye with a lot of emphasis
We`re going away from the Holy Ground and the girls that we love true
Leaving behind a place and people they love
We will sail the South sea over and then return for sure
Going on a journey, planning to come back
To see again the girls we love and the Holy Ground once more
Looking forward to reuniting with loved ones and returning to a beloved place
Chorus: Fine girl you are! Your`re the girl that I adore and still I live in hopes to see The Holy Ground once more. Fine girls you are!
Repeating the compliment to the girls and expressing a strong desire to return to the place they love
See the storm a-rising I see it coming soon
Anticipating a dangerous weather event
And the sky it is so cloudy you can scarcely see the moon
Describing the weather conditions
And the good old ship, she was tossing about
The ship they were on was being rocked by the storm
The riggin`was all tore, and still I live with hopes to see, The Holy ground once more.
Despite the difficult circumstances, still desiring to return to the beloved place
And now the storm it is over and we are safe on shore
The storm has passed and they have reached safety
We will drink a toast to the Holy Ground and the girls that we adore.
Celebrating being back on land and paying tribute to beloved people and places
We will drink strong ale and porter and make the rafters roar
Having a good time and making noise
And when our money is all spent we`ll go to sea for more.
Planning to go back to sea for work when they run out of money
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CIARAN PADRAIG MAIRE BOURKE, RONALD JOSEPH DREW, BARNEY MCKENNA, LUKE KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@seanbhoy67
one of my favourite songs being sung by a legend. brilliant!!!
@captainharloq8054
Woah, 15 yo comment, how's youtube like back then?
@daisypeters3216
You are Great, my boy. Luke we Love you so much. All the SONGS sung by you I listen everyday. Hurray Dubliners forever and Hurray IRELAND. 😘💖💖💖🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪👏👏👏
@nolamom
It's shocking to "meet" him through his music, I think. I've been listening every day for nearly two years.
@Rikki0
Sure it matters, my friend. It's true history. You are quite correct, the "Holy Ground" was a notorious red light district in Cobh, which was at that time named Queenstown. I love the history of these great songs and it makes them a little more enjoyable to listen to when you know the background. Just a year or so ago the town of Cobh was trying to decide whether to tear it down (it still exists) or turn it into a historical district. I don't know what they decided.
@andrewdoyle529
Love this song
@alexhickey5633
This sounds better than the early version i think
@Guyptp12
top song!
@SIrLoneRabbit
Hear, hear! Hail to the speak-easy hillbillies!
@55vica
Reminder of the days of the Wren boys------seasons greetings!