The Dubliners are untamed balladeers

And Barney was the coolest of them all

This banjo master simply lived apart

In a secret world beyond our call

Days of friendship in his Howth retreat

Always ended in the Cock so near

When his banjo talked of other things

That only men who paid their dues could hear

For Barney McKenna was no simple man

He hid his Dublin intellect with guff

And when it came to knowing what was what

You found a Barney made of sterner stuff

On stage his banjo wizardry would blend

With John’s subtle fiddle to create

That sound we knew was Dubliners at large

When Luke and Ronnie’s voices made them great

For 50 years the Dubliners marched on

As some founder members left the scene

So Sean and Eamon came with Patsy now

To fill the shoes of heroes they have been

I’ve no fear of being sentimental

For what you feel is real and so I say

I’ll miss Barney when a banjo rings

Across the noise of life in every day.

 

The Dubliners are what we know they are

A force of nature that we feel we own

Tomorrow I will join the Dubs again

To be a part of Barney going home.

 

Pete St John ©

April 6^th 2012 .