In 1968, the predecessor of the Juno’s named The Irish Rovers Canada’s, “Folk Group of the Year”, and the following year, they received a Grammy nomination for “Folk Performance of the Year”.
As hosts of three national television series in Canada and Ireland, through the 1970's and 80s, The Irish Rovers increased the popularity of Irish music by way of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).
Canada's Prime Minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, personally asked the band if they could “please become Canadian” so that they could officially represent Canada throughout the world. Since then, they have represented Canada at no less than five world Expos, and in recognition for a quarter century of contributions to the International music world, The Irish Rovers won the Performing Rights Organization's (PROCAN) 'Harold Moon Award'.
Although all members of the band hail from Ireland, a number of their biggest hits were often "non-Irish". Their own rousing, traditional Irish compositions, however, do comprise the bulk of their music.
By the 90’s, their songwriting was even more prolific than their early years, and production of albums wasn’t about to slow down. Since they desired the freedom that as a younger band, they could not afford, in ’93 The Irish Rovers established their own record company, Rover Records. Their songs tell the story of the Irish, whether it’s a lost love, a sailor on leave, or the simple good taste of a Guinness. Rover Records has put out their last eleven albums, including Celtic Collection, Come Fill Up Your Glasses, Down by the Lagan Side, Another Round, Still Rovin', a Christmas album, and their greatest hits, 40 Years A-Rovin'.
Founding member George Millar is from Ballymena, original member Wilcil McDowell is from Larne, John Reynolds from Belfast, Sean O'Driscoll from Cork, Ian Millar from Ballymena, and percussionist Fred Graham is also from Belfast.
Former members include founding member Jimmy Ferguson who passed away in 1997 and Joe Millar.
Winken Blinken And Nod
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sailed off in a wooden shoe,
Sailed on a river of crystal light
Into a sea of dew
Where are you going
And what do you wish
The old man asked the three
We've come to fish
That swim in the beautiful sea
Nets of silver and gold have we
Said Winken, Blinken and Nod
The old man laughed and sang this sang
As they rocked in the wooden shoe
And the wind that sped them all night long
Ruffled the waves of dew
The nettles and the herring firsh
Lived in the beautiful sea
Cast your nets, wherever you wish
Never afeared are we
Do cried the stars to the fisherman three
Winken, blinken and nod
All night long
Their nets they threw
To the stars in the twinklin' foam
Then down from the sky
Came the wooden shoe
Bringing the fisherman home
'Twas oh so strange
A trip it seemed
As if it could not be
And some folks thought
'Twas a dream they'd dreamed
Of sailing the beautiful sea
But I shall name you
The fisherman three
Winken, Blinken and Nod
Winken and Blinken
Are two little eyes
And Nod is a little head
And the wooden shoe
That sailed the skies
Is a wee one's trundle bed
So close your eyes
And I will sing
Of wonderful sights that be
You shall see
All the beautiful things
As you rock in that misty sea
Just like the fisherman three
Winken, Blinken and Nod
The Irish Rovers's song Winken Blinken And Nod is a poetic and whimsical tale about three fishermen - Winken, Blinken, and Nod, who sail off in a wooden shoe in search of herring fish that swim in the beautiful sea. The old man they encounter on their journey laughs at them and sings a song as they rocked in the wooden shoe. The fishermen cast their nets under the twinkling stars, and a wooden shoe appears from the sky, bringing them back home. The song's name "Winken, Blinken and Nod" refers to their distinctive characteristics - Winken and Blinken being two little eyes, and Nod a little head.
The lyrics have a dreamlike quality, and the journey taken by Winken, Blinken, and Nod can be interpreted as a metaphorical journey through life, much like a dream. The sea of dew and crystal light presents an unreal and ethereal atmosphere, while the fishing nets of silver and gold symbolize the riches that life has to offer, and the old man's laugh can be seen as the world's amusement at the three's naive dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Winken, Blinken and Nod one night
Winken, Blinken, and Nod sailed one night in a wooden shoe.
Sailed off in a wooden shoe,
They set sail in a small wooden boat shaped like a shoe.
Sailed on a river of crystal light
They sailed on a sparkling river of light.
Into a sea of dew
They entered a sea covered in dewdrops.
Where are you going
The old man asked the three where they were heading.
And what do you wish
The old man inquired about their wishes.
We've come to fish
The trio came to fish in the sea.
For the herring fish
They were after the herring fish.
That swim in the beautiful sea
These fish can be found in the beautiful sea.
Nets of silver and gold have we,
Winken, Blinken, and Nod have brought nets made of silver and gold.
Said Winken, Blinken and Nod
The three affirmed that they indeed had brought such nets.
The old man laughed and sang this sang
The old man laughed and began singing a tune.
As they rocked in the wooden shoe
The group rocked back and forth in the wooden boat.
And the wind that sped them all night long
A strong wind propelled the boat throughout the night.
Ruffled the waves of dew
The wind stirred up the dewdrops on the sea's surface.
The nettles and the herring fish
The ocean contained both herring fish and nettles.
Lived in the beautiful sea
These creatures inhabit the sea's waters.
Cast your nets, wherever you wish
The fisherman were encouraged to cast their nets wherever they pleased.
Never afeared are we
The fisherman were not afraid.
Do cried the stars to the fisherman three
The stars called out to the three fishermen.
Winken, blinken and nod
The stars specifically addressed Winken, Blinken, and Nod.
All night long
The entire night passed in this manner.
Their nets they threw
The group continued throwing out their nets.
To the stars in the twinklin' foam
The fishermen cast their nets to the stars reflected in the foam of the sea.
Then down from the sky
A wooden shoe descended from the sky.
Came the wooden shoe
The wooden boat returned.
Bringing the fisherman home
The boat carried the fishermen back home.
'Twas oh so strange
This experience was quite peculiar.
A trip it seemed
It felt like a journey.
As if it could not be
It was nearly unbelievable.
And some folks thought
Certain people suspected.
'Twas a dream they'd dreamed
Perhaps it had been a dream they had already had.
Of sailing the beautiful sea
This dream involved sailing on a gorgeous sea.
But I shall name you
The artist is about to identify.
The fisherman three
He is referring to the three fishermen from the story.
Winken, Blinken and Nod
Those fishermen are specifically named Winken, Blinken, and Nod.
Winken and Blinken
Winken and Blinken are two small, twinkling lights.
Are two little eyes
These lights are like two small eyes.
And Nod is a little head
Nod is the head that the eyes are a part of.
And the wooden shoe
The wooden boat.
That sailed the skies
That appeared to sail through the sky.
Is a wee one's trundle bed
It is actually a bed that a small child might sleep in.
So close your eyes
The singer encourages the listener to shut their eyes.
And I will sing
He will begin to sing.
Of wonderful sights that be
The song will describe delightful things.
You shall see
The listener is addressed directly.
All the beautiful things
The song will reveal all the amazing sights to be seen.
As you rock in that misty sea
As you swayed from side to side on the boat.
Just like the fisherman three
You will feel like the original Winken, Blinken, and Nod.
Writer(s): Lucy Simon
Contributed by Aiden F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ian Burt
on Bluenose
You have missed out a verse.