Oh Drimmindown lived before she was dead
She gave me fresh butter to spread on my bread
Likewise good milk for to stiffen my crown
But now it’s black water since Drimmindown’s gone.

Chorus
Arragh Drimmindown arra draw
Arragh Drimmindown addle you draw
Arragh Drimmindown hook a sook
Oh my Drimmindown dearie oh where have you gone?

Drimmindown Drimmindown for which and for why?
Drimmindown Drimmindown what made you die?
So white was your milk and so slim was your tail
I thought my poor Drimmindown never would fail.

Chorus

(IN = CBC interviewer)

IN: Now, did you get any songs from that far back in your family, the Kelly side?

CC: Yes, I imagine they came from the Kelly’s because my grandmother was fully Irish although she was born here, born in America. She was born in Calais, Maine, right on the border over here. And one of the songs she sang I think is so extremely Irish that, while it’s a rather odd song, I really like it. Would you like to hear that one?

IN: Yes, sir. Which one is it? What’s the name?

CC: Well, the song is ”Drimmindown”. And it’s about an old woman mourning for her cow that had died. Goes like this:

CC: I don’t think you’d deny that that was Irish, would you?

IN: No, it has the real Irish sound in it too.