From the recording The Road to Drumleman
I learned this song years ago from an Ossian album. I later found out that Tony Cuffe had only written the tune, the words he got from a song by Willie Mitchell. When I started recording "Comfort" I went back and listened to Tony singing it and realized that I had changed the tune slightly myself - ah the folk process!
Lyrics
Road to Drumleman
Oh the springtime returns to the Laggan again
And the larks sweetly sing o’er the green fertile plain
I’ll take the road that is dearest to me
The road to Drumleman that winds tae the sea.
For I’ve made many friends there on every green mile
And the folks always greet me with a wave and a smile
If I spend all my days here, its happy I’ll be
On the road to Drumleman that winds tae the sea.
For we sat round the fireside when the winter winds blew
And we laughed and we sang till the night was weel through
Then we’d have a good dram and a wee cup of tea
On the road to Drumleman that winds tae the sea.
And the long summer days when we tramped the hills o’er
To spend hours at the Eenans or the Creggans wild shore
And the soft summer twilight made shadows to flee
On the road to Drumleman that winds tae the sea.
Now these days passing swiftly bring changes I know
And as time marchs on from this place we must go
But I’ll ever remember while the heart beats in me
The road to Drumleman that winds tae the sea.