The Holy Ground

"The Holy Ground" History and Background:

The Holy Ground refers to an actual site which lies on the East side of town in Cobh, County Cork, Ireland, which has been a port of call for hundreds of years and was, coincidentally, the port from which the Titanic left and which the Lusitania never reached. The traditional sea shanty "The Holy Ground" tells the story of sailors who are always leaving and coming back to Cobh and, of course, the girls they love.

"The Holy Ground" is also sometimes called "Fine Girl You Are."

"The Holy Ground" Lyrics:

Fare thee well my lovely Dinah a thousand times adieu
We are saying goodbye to the Holy Ground and the girls we all love true
We will sail the salt seas over and then return to shore
And still I live in hopes to see the Holy Ground once more.
Fine girl You Are.

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

Oh, now the storm is coming, I see it rising soon
For the night is dark and dreary, you can scarcely see the moon
And the good old ship she is tossing about and the rigging is all tore
But still I live in hope to see the Holy Ground once more.
Fine Girl You Are.

Oh, now the storm is over and we are safe on shore
And we'll go into a public house to the girls we do adore
And we'll drink strong ale and porter and we'll make the rafters roar
And when our money is all spent, we'll go to sea once more.

Fine Girl You Are.