Print This Page#01030 Print This Page
Why Dermott, you look healthy now,
When you dresses neat and plain,
I have never seen you drunk about,
Come tell me where you have been;
Your wife and family all are well,
You once did use them strange,
But you're more kinder to them now,
How came that happy change?
It was a dream, a warning voice
That heaven sent to me;
To keep me from a drunkard's curse
Of wanting misery.
I dreamt one night I staggered home,
It being a sudden gloom,
I missed my wife where can she be,
And strangers in the room.
I hear them say, "Poor thing she's dead,
She's lived a wretched life,
'Twas grief and want that broke her heart,
For she was a drunkard's wife."
It was a dream, a warning voice
That heaven sent to me;
To keep me from a drunkard's curse
Of wanting misery.
I saw my children weeping 'round,
I scarce could draw my breath,
I called and kissed her once warm lips,
Was forever cold as death;
Now Mary, speak one word to me,
No more I'll cause you pain,
No more I'll grieve your loving heart,
Nor ever drink again.
It was a dream, a warning voice
That heaven sent to me;
To keep me from a drunkard's curse
Of wanting misery.
Now Mary, speak while Dermot calls.
"Why so I do," she cried.
I woke and saw my Mary dear
Was kneeling by my side;
I pressed her to my throbbing heart,
While joyful tears did stream,
And ever since, I've heaven blessed,
For sending me that dream.
Sung by Jim Rice (1879-1958) of Cape Broyle, NL, and published in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA). A variant was also recorded by Tommy Nemec (Songs From The Cape, 2003).
