Antje Duvekot: Dublin Boys

SONG Dublin Boys

WRITTEN BY Antje Duvekot

PERFORMED BY Antje Duvekot

APPEARS ON The Near Demise of the High Wire Dancer (2009); Snapshots (2008); Boys, Flowers, Miles (2005)

"Dublin Boys" is one of those sweet, buoyant songs that we never never have enough of. The premise is simple: Lost at love and homesick, the singer strikes out for greener pastures ("I gotta go where the green is/Don't wanna wait for brown") determined to "pick myself back up."

What makes "Dublin Boys" different is Duvekot's recognition that she'll fall again ("I'm gonna get back up on my horse 'til I go down") and that whatever might happen isn't entirely in her control. Hence, the telling verse

I know that things gotta change, it's what they always do

Oh, but change has never been known to wait for you

so reminiscent of John Lennon's "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." (Complete lyrics to "Beautiful Boy" here.)

But while Lennon wrote from the wry, somewhat resigned perspective of early middle age, Duvekot still has youth on her side: Perhaps that makes the thought of getting back on the horse repeatedly less daunting and more of an adventure. In any case, "Dublin Boys" serves as a wonderful reminder of the gentle bravado of youth, wherein a city with its houses burning down can still be wonderful and wherein the comforts of home are reviving enough to set one's path to the next "sweet city."

LYRICS

Sweet city of Dublin, I am heading out

'Cause all the houses on your streets are burning down

Oh, but not to worry, cause I will be okay

Yes, I will pick myself back up another day

But I am dirty from the traveling

And miss my family

So, goodbye Dublin boys, farewell

I gave you my best shot

But you could never tell

I'm gonna pack my suitcase

And sing to myself

Goodbye

I know that things gotta change, it's what they always do

Oh, but change has never been known to wait for you

I'm gonna go where the green is

Don't wanna wait for brown

I'm gonna get back on my horse 'til I go down

And you're more beautiful than ever

And it just goes to show

So, goodbye Dublin boys, farewell

I gave you my best shot

But you could never tell

I'm gonna pack my suitcase

And sing to myself

So, goodbye Dublin boys, farewell

I gave you my best shot

But you could never tell

I'm gonna pack my suitcase

And sing to myself

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

So, goodbye Dublin boys, farewell

I gave you my best shot

But you could never tell

I'm gonna pack my suitcase

And sing to myself

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye