Brendan Songtext
von Tommy Makem

Our mast and keel were made of oak
We had cowhide all around
She was fitted right, she was watertight
And we were outward bound
Our sails were white in the morning light
The Celtic cross our sign
By Brendan blessed we were headed west
And the land fell far behind

We′d a favouring wind for weeks on end
And we could take our ease
One cloudy morn it suddenly turned
And brought us mountainous seas
Between the waves was darkened caves
And Brendan brought us through
He roared a prayer that the Lord might spare
Our ship and all its crew


Brendan, holy Brendan
He sailed uncharted waters
He discovered lands unknown
Brendan, holy Brendan
He was a saintly sailor
And he steered us safely home

We saw strange sights cold days and nights
And Brendan wrote them down
Fish that fly and a rainbowed sky
And a floating crystal town
And a giant thing that could swim and sing
Blew water through its head
And a fish that talked and on water walked
And a crew that was damn near dead

We had nearly died when Brendan cried
"There is land fall near at hand
An albatross our bow has crossed
And we're approaching land"

We ran aground on the land newfound
And we rested many days
Spirits were good for rice water and food
And we all sang Brendan′s praise


Brendan, holy Brendan
He sailed uncharted waters
He discovered lands unknown
Brendan, holy Brendan
He was a saintly sailor
And he steered us safely home

It was turning cold and it might take hold
And we headed out once more
We were southward bound and the only sound
Was the wind and the water's roar
We had no storm and the sun turned warm
And we once again made land
With fruits to eat all fresh and sweet
A paradise for man

Now we're home again through the wind and rain
And homeland hills look green
And Brendan′s charts map out the parts
Where no one else had been

Now winter nights by the firelight
I live it all again
How a saintly man with a prayer and a plan
Had charted the western main

Brendan, holy Brendan
He sailed uncharted waters
He discovered lands unknown
Brendan, holy Brendan
He was a saintly sailor
And he steered us safely home

Brendan, holy Brendan
He sailed uncharted waters
He discovered lands unknown
Brendan, holy Brendan
He was a saintly sailor
And he steered us safely home