There are wild and rocky hills on the coast of Donegal

And the fishermen are hearty, brave and free

and the big atlantic swell

is a thing they know right well

as they fight to make their living from the sea



Chorus:

With a pleasant rolling sea and the herring running free

and our ships all gliding Gently through the foam

when the boats are loaded down

there'll be singing in the town

when the boys of killybegs come rollin home



Now you're headed out to sea and the wind is blowing free

and you cast your nets as rain begins to fall

and the clouds are riding high and the wind will soon blow by

and today you'll amybe get your bumper haul



Chorus



Well the weather's very rough and the work gets plenty touth

and the ropes will raise the welts upon your hands

but you'll never leave the sea

for whoever you may be

when it's in your blood it's hard to live on land



Chorus



Now there's purple on the hills and there's green down by the shore

and the sun has cast it's gold upon the sea

and there's silver down below where the herring fishes go

if we catch them there'll be gold for you and me