Words and music by Ryan Wade Smith
Arrangement by Ryan Wade Smith
lyrics
It's a long way to Galveston,
it's a long way to Old Dublin,
haulin' a line and Drivin' a spool...
what's a poor Irish fool to do?
Al a carte breakfast in New Orleans,
spam in a can and rice and beans,
slept in a pirogue on Ponchartrain...
and I come down with the Tullamore Dew!
Chorus:
I come down with the Tullamore Dew,
oh I come down with the Tullamore Dew,
I come down with the Tullamore Dew,
what's a poor Irish fool to do?
I've been up shrimpin' up off the coast,
haulin' a line twelve hours and more...
I think about time and how it goes...
spent half my life on a shrimpin' boat...
Met a sweet gal in French Quarter,
she stole my mind on the Second line,
she got a soft spot for Zydeco,
fresh fried zignets and shrimp gumbo...
but she stole my heart and gave me the blues,
and I come down with the Tullamore Dew...
(Chorus)
In a big gust of wind in a hurricane,
that old shrimper when down with a strain,
and it's all seven men into the lifeboats,
and wherever she sank, ain't nobody knows...
And we heave and we row...
and we row for our lives...
up one wave
and down with the tide...
but as strong as we are...
we are are only men...
and a rogue wave split us to pieces,
and then...
It's all seven men into the ocean,
down to the bottom well God did us send,
Zydeco screamin' all through my brain,
I awoke in a pirogue on Ponchartrain....
I take my last bight of shrimp gumbo,
and I come down with the Tullamore Dew...
(Chorus)
It's a long way to Galveston,
it's a long way to Old Dublin,
haulin' a line and drivin' a spool,
what's a poor Irish fool to do?
credits
from Radio America '71,
track released May 15, 2015
Ryan Wade Smith: martin guitar, trippy electric martin guitar, keyboard, banjo, washtub bass, lead vocal
David Ernsberger: Acoustic lead guitar and counter melodies, rhythm guitars, melodic oohs, beautiful vocal harmonies
Two singer-songwriters sharing a love of music, tradition, and all things old time together to bring more words and music to
the world. We took an idea that came about one evening in conversation, built a soundproof booth with some sweat, staples, 2 X 4's, insulation and carpet, and started painting on the canvas. David hails from Northern Michigan, and Ryan grew up south of Tucson, Arizona....more
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