DILLAN BAY - Gordon Bok

Dillan Bay, laddie-o
Dillan dau, laddie-ay
Dillan Bay, laddie-o
All the boats are gone

Gone away, laddie-o
Gone away, laddie-ay
Gone away, laddie-o
With their topsails high

Topsails high, laddie-o
Topsails high, laddie-ay
Topsails high, laddie-o
When the wind's away

Wind's away, laddie-o
Wind's away, laddie-ay
Wind's away, laddie-o
Down in Dillan Bay

Dillan Bay, laddie-o
Dillan dau, laddie-ay
Dillan Bay, laddie-o
All the boats are gone

recorded by Gordon Bok on "Seal Djiril's Hymn", sound clip
Copyright Folk Legacy Records, 1977

Dillon’s Bay – Island of Erromango (east of Australia, north of New Zealand in S. Pacific)
Dau (Dhow) the generic name of a traditional sailing vessel with lateen sails used in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. Typically sporting long thin hulls, dhows are trading vessels primarily used to carry heavy items, like fruit, fresh water or merchandise, along the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and East Africa.
BUT when Gordon Bok was asked about the origin of the lyrics, he said "Dillan Bay" was probably associated with a dream. He doesn't know where his Dillan Bay might be, and he's definitely never run aground there!

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