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about

This song conveys the common story of harsh sentencing practised during the 19th century in Ireland. The hero is sent to Derry Gaol for the crime of stealing a loaf of bread.
Sourced from the singing of Alan Burke and penned by Alan himself and Tim Potts. Here Alan explains the song's conception.

"Myself and Tim had finished recording an album but were a song short for it. He mentioned a song called Derry Gaol that he'd heard a guy called Jim Eldon from the north east of England sing. Tim could only remember the title and the melody. So I set to writing new words. Tim added a few verses and I wrote a new melody for it as the tune Tim had for it wasn't too exciting. That's how the song came about."
Thanks Alan and Tim for your kind permission.

lyrics

When Derry Gaol I first did see
A suit of clothes they gave to me
The bugs came out and loud did hail
"Here's more fresh meat for Derry Gaol"

I stole a loaf and curse my luck
I had no plan and I came unstuck
If I'd had of thought of the price I'd pay
I'd have done it still but got away

The judge he eyed me in the dock
And slammed his gavel on the block
"It's five long years in Derry Gaol"
Wouldn't have been so bad but the loaf was stale

Down in Derry Gaol

At six o'clock the bell does ring
And for parade we all fall in
The turnkey calls for smarter gear
Well if we were smart we wouldn't be in here

At seven o'clock the beds are made
At eight o'clock the tables laid
With rotten scraps, no fish nor meat
The dirty slops the pigs won't eat

Down in Derry Gaol

In Derry gaol the work is hard
It's breaking stones out in the yard
It's breaking stones 'til half past ten
Then it's out once more breaking stones again

There's men in here done awful crimes
Others fallen on hard times
But all of them are better than
The stinking judge and the policeman

Well if I was the jailer and he was me
I'd get up one morning and set me free
I'd leave me mates the bunch of keys
And I'd leave the jailer the bugs and the fleas

Down in Derry Gaol

credits

from The Femme Fatale of Maine, released July 8, 2021

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The Jeremiahs Dublin, Ireland

The Jeremiahs is an Irish folk band that comprises four musicians who have come together with the common goal of writing, composing and performing folk songs and music.

From Dublin is singer Joe Gibney on vocals. On fiddle, viola and vocals is County Cork’s Niamh Varian-Barry (formerly of Solas). On flutes is the French born Julien Bruneteau and on Guitar is Dublin born James Ryan. ... more

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