Johnny at the Door

Listen: LoFi | Download | Chords
From: Songs of Ireland

words and music by Marc Gunn

Johnny awoke with an ache in his head.
Bad dreams had made him ill.
And he grumbled as he dressed despite his duress
As he made his way to the mill.
Well he never wanted to work that day,
But the foreman had himself clear.
So Johnny dreamed of the eve to come
When he'd drink him beer after beer, singing...

"I'll drink from dusk till dawn
I'll drink a toast to day's end.
Yes, I'll drink from dusk till dawn
And I'll drink to the health of me friends."

It was a cold morning, went straight to his bones
Oh, he wished that he had him some ale.
Just one fine glass of stout Guiness
Would hold him till the end of the trail.
Oh his mouth watered with the thought of ale
By the time he arrived he'd decide
That not even Death could keep him away
From his friends and their favorite dive. They'd sing...

Johnny worked hard all the day
His mind away drinking alone
And he told his friends of the pledge he'd made
And the fantasy that kept him afloat.
"Come hell or high water I'll drink with you
Nothing could keep me away."
When the day came to end, he left with a friend. Together they walked and they sang...

On the road they came to a bridge of rope
And there they met a man
With a scythe in his hand and an evil grin
Twas Old Death who cut Johnny down.
Johnny's friend crossed himself, swore it'was the truth
As he retold the scene to the bar
And they raised a glass to Johnny's last words,
"I'll drink with ye come hell or high water!" He said...

Well the door swung open, a cold wind blew in
And there stood a man unafraid.
He called for a beer. They realized when near
It was Johnny come back from the grave.
He said, "You could keep me away from work.
For there's nothing I live for me there.
But I told you today of the pledge I made
You can't keep a man from his beer! They sang...

KEY G

verse:
G G G
D7 G
C G C G
C G D7 G

chorus:
C G C G
C G C G D7 G

Background: This song went through several evolutions in song titles from "A Man And His Beer", to "Johnny Awoke" to "Johnny at the Door" and finally "I'll Drink from Dusk Till Dawn". I think I finally found a name that'll stick. (I hope). This was my first effort at writing a sing-along Celtic drinking song.