D                                 G              D
A boat sailed out of Brandon in_the year of five o one
        D                                G           A
’twas a damp and dirty mornin’ Brendan’s voyage it begun.
D                             G              D
Tired of thinnin’ turnips and cuttin’ curley kale
                                       A              D
When he got back from the creamery  he hoisted up the sail.
                                   G                      D
He ploughed a lonely furrow to the north, south, east and west
   D                       G               A
Of all the navigators, St. Brendan was the best.
     D                            G                D
When he ran out of candles he was forced to make a stop,
   D                               A             D
He tied up in Long Island and put America on the map.
        G                      D
Did you know that Honolulu was found by a Kerryman,
    A               A7             Dsus2       D
Who went on to find Australia then China and Japan.
     G                      D
When he was touchin’ 70, he began to miss the crack,
                             A               D
Turnin’ to his albatross sez he “I’m headin’ back”.

[Chorus]
       G                   D
“Is it right or left for Gibraltar”
     A                             D
“and What tack do I take for Mizen Head?”
     G                               D
“I’d love to settle down near Ventry Harbour”,
                    A           D
St. Brendan to his albatross he said.

[Verse]
   D                                 G               D
To make it fast he bent the mast and built up mighty steam.
                           G                A
Around Terra del Fuego and up the warm Gulf Stream,
   D                             G               D
He crossed the last horizon, Mt. Brandon came in sight
                                     A              D
And when he cleared the customs into Dingle for the night.
G                                                D
When he got the Cordon Bleu he went to douse the drought,
   A              A7                  Dsus2    D
He headed west to Crozier’s to murder pints of stout
               G            D
Around by Ballyferriter and up the Conor Pass
                                 A                 D
He freewheeled into Brandon, the saint was home at last.

[Chorus]
       G                   D
“Is it right or left for Gibraltar”
     A                             D
“and What tack do I take for Mizen Head?”
     G                               D
“I’d love to settle down near Ventry Harbour”,
                    A           D
St. Brendan to his albatross he said.

[Verse]
      D                              G                 D
The entire population came (281) the place was chock-a-block
                                 G               A
Love nor money wouldn’t get your nose inside the shop.
    D                                   G                  D
The fishermen hauled up their nets, the farmers left their hay,
                                    A             D
Kerry people know that saints don’t turn up every day.
G                               D
Everythin’ was goin’ great ’til Brendan did announce
    A            A7             Dsus2          D
His reason for returnin’ was to try and set up house.
    G                        D
The girls were flabbergasted at St. Brendan’s neck
                                   A           D
To seek a wife so late in life and him a total wreck.

[Chorus]
       G                   D
“Is it right or left for Gibraltar”
     A                             D
“and What tack do I take for Mizen Head?”
     G                               D
“I’d love to settle down near Ventry Harbour”,
                    A           D
St. Brendan to his albatross he said.

[Verse]
D                           G                  D
Worn down by rejection that pierced his humble pride,
                                    G                A
“Begod”, sez Brendan “If I run I’ll surely catch the tide”
D                         G                     D
Turnin’ on his sandals he made straight for the docks
                             A                 D
And haulin’ up his anchor he cast off from the rocks.
      G                                  D
As he sailed past Inismhicheallain there stood the albatross
   A                A7                 Dsus2            D
“I knew you’d never stick it out, ’tis great to see you boss”
     G                            D
“I’m bailin’ out” sez Brendan, “I badly need a break
                                        A           D
A fortnight is about as much as any aul saint could take.”

[Chorus] x 2
       G                   D
“Is it right or left for Gibraltar”
     A                             D
“and What tack do I take for Mizen Head?”
     G                               D
“I’d love to settle down near Ventry Harbour”,
                    A           D
St. Brendan to his albatross he said.