What’s in a Name

Dinah is taken from the folksong “The Holy Ground.”

Irish lyrics to the tune of “Old Swansea Town Once More”.

The “Holy Ground” is a quarter of Cobh (once known as Queenstown), which was inhabited mainly by fishermen. The tune is also referred to as The Cobh Sea Shanty. It was popular on the docks of Cork and Cobh as well as on the ships. The tune was originally a capstan shanty – a song sung as sailors turned the capstan to raise the anchor.

The Holy Ground

Fare thee well, my lovely Dinah,
a thousand times adieu.
We are bound away from the Holy Ground
and the girls we love so true.
We’ll sail the salt seas over
and we’ll return once more,
And still I live in hope to see
the Holy Ground once more.

Chorus:
You’re the girl that I adore,
And still I live in hope to see

the Holy Ground once more.

Now when we’re out a-sailing
and you are far behind
Fine letters will I write to you
with the secrets of my mind,
The secrets of my mind, my girl,
you’re the girl that I adore,
And still I live in hope to see
the Holy Ground once more.

Chorus:
You’re the girl that I adore,
And still I live in hope to see
the Holy Ground once more.

Oh now the storm is raging
and we are far from shore;
The poor old ship she’s sinking fast
and the riggings they are tore.
The night is dark and dreary,
we can scarcely see the moon,
But still I live in hope to see
the Holy Ground once more.

Chorus:
You’re the girl that I adore,
And still I live in hope to see
the Holy Ground once more.

It’s now the storm is over
and we are safe on shore
We’ll drink a toast to the Holy Ground
and the girls that we adore.
We’ll drink strong ale and porter
and we’ll make the taproom roar,
And when our money is all spent
we’ll go to sea once more.

Chorus:
You’re the girl that I adore,
And still I live in hope to see
the Holy Ground once more

Originally recorded by The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem in 1962 on their album “The Boys Won’t Leave the Girls Alone.”

boys wont leave the girls alone

Performances available on YouTube: November 1967 studio

The High Kings have a version

The Dubliners have a version (nice photos of Cobh) and another here.