"'What are the two destinations for Irish fishermen when they die?'

The way I learned it was that Irish fishermen (and others who take their living from the sea) go to Fiddler's Green if they die ashore and Davy Jones' Locker if they die at sea. In Fiddler's Green they get to spend eternity drinking, smoking and, uh, doing other things that sailors enjoy that wouldn't be permitted in heaven. Davy Jones' Locker sounds less pleasant."

The version I learned says they go to Fiddlers' Green (apparently the equivalent of Heaven for an Irishman) or to Hell (maybe Davy Jones' Locker is the Hell equivalent).

I learned it from a CD of Irish songs that came out back when the "Riverdance" show phenomenon was really peaking. I've since learned that the version of "Spancill Hill" on that album isn't complete; I guess they shortened it for track length so they could get more songs on the album (it has about 20). So "Fiddlers' Green" as done on that album may not be like others that are more frequently performed.

"Fiddlers' Green" is one that I rewrote lyrics for a number of years ago and made the fisherman a Confederate soldier who was about to die and go to "God's Dixieland." Of course, his view of Heaven was that it would be just like his Southern home but without all the trials and tribulations of life. I actually did this rewrite before I ever knew Jed Marum so he and I have been doing similar war/Celtic blendings for some time.   Since he's a relatively successful pro musician and I'm not, I've offered this one to him if he decides to do another Confederate-focused album.

SC