The Fiddler From Dooney
verses from a poem by William Butler Yeats
chorus by Bonnie Rideout from her CD “Gi'Me Elbow Room,” as modified by Stewart Hendrickson
Tune for the verses by Bonnie Rideout; for the chorus by Stewart Hendrickson
Recorded by Bonnie Rideout Recorded by Castlebay
When I play on my fiddle in Dooney,
Folk dance like a wave of the sea;
My cousin is priest in Kilvarnet,
My brother in Moharabuiee.
chorus: I love my fiddle, I love my song.
Folk dance the whole night long.
Get up in the morning and stretch my arms
And start all over again
I passed my brother and cousin:
They read in their books of prayer;
I read in my book of songs
I bought at the Sligo fair. chorus
When we come at the end of time,
To Peter sitting in state,
He will smile on the three old spirits,
But call me first through the gate. chorus
For the good are always the merry,
Save by an evil chance,
And the merry love the fiddle
And the merry love to dance:
And when the folk there spy me,
They will all come up to me,
With ‘Here is the fiddler of Dooney!’
And dance like a wave of the sea.