Eerie Song

= Eerie Song=

The king gave me this song one night, he explained that is song is an important one for Tory Island. Of course it's a tribute to the island and its way of life...

When I lie down at night I think of the fish When I rise in the morning I rush to the cliff The birds give me enjoyment As they sit in the mouths of the holes And the whale at the Tor Dearg Throwing herring over its back

I think of the net And the boat containing it I think of the oars And of their strokes in the sea I think of the rain And of the strength of the wind And how I often hung the rudder And the helm on her stern

When I sit by the fire I think of the time When I and my little currach Were out on the wave top With nothing between me and eternity But the thin tarred cloth Working the wind and the sea Amongst the birds of the cliffs

How nice are the scales Shining on our shoes And it was easier to throw them back Than to sell them often

But we must cross the sound In fair weather or foul with them Where the buyer will welcome us And we'll have a bottle of black stout

Now I am old And becoming sick and weary I never expect to recover Until I am laid in the graveyard I thank the god of Glory How I spent my time on a rock in the middle of the Ocean Amongst the birds of the cliffs.