The Dublin Saunter (Dublin can be heaven)
The Piano Sheet Music Is Included In The Key Of C Major which is the same key Paddy Reilly Sings The Song In. Written by Leo Maguire (1903-1985)(e *) = play A- and D-string, not E. Originally recorded by Noel Purcell in the 1940s and later by Paddy Reilly and Maureen Potter and later by Aoife Scott. Leo Maguire was a Jackeen [ Dublin Man ]who wrote over one hundred songs, his most famous being The Whistling Gypsy, Maguire was born in 1903 and died in 1985, he worked for the national broadcaster R.T.E. presenting the radio programme The Waltons Show where he played ballads for thirty years. The man who sings the song is the bold Paddy Reilly from Dublin who was the front man in The Dubliners for a few years. Paddy became famous overnight when he had a massive hit with the Pete St. John Song ''The Fields Of Athenry'' .
The Dublin Saunter
The city still retained much of its old character even though the suburban sprawl was
already under way. It was certainly a poorer, yet more tranquil and perhaps happier time.
Going to the pictures and listening to the radio were the favoured pastimes, but Jimmy O’Dea,
Noel Purcell and Sean Mooney, to name but a few, could still be seen regularly in the city
theatres, while the local parish halls drew large attendances to their pantomimes and variety
concerts. It was at this type of venue that the Ballyfermot Boy’s Band made its debut. Formed in the middle fifties by Brother Thomas, the principal at the Ballyfermot School, it was directed by Brother Victor whose efforts firmly established the popularity of the band during that period. As for the Artane Boys’ Band, they were already a legend in themselves. Formed originally in
1882, their distinct brand of music has charmed Dubliners and many more for generations. It was from this varied background that the
inspiration for this collection was formed. The advent of television was just around the corner, yet its influence towards change was
still a little time off. Perhaps that era of change is best represented here by James Bartley in the
role of Sean Nolan from the popular RTE TV serial of the sixties, “Tolka Row’. It recalls the efforts of this fictional character to become a
pop star — efforts in vain, as it turned out. This nostalgic trip down memory lane is vividly enhanced by the addition of authentic Dublin sounds which, with the exception of a few, can, alas, be heard no more in their original setting. They are now just a small piece of social history.
The Dublin Saunter
The city still retained much of its old character even though the suburban sprawl was
already under way. It was certainly a poorer, yet more tranquil and perhaps happier time.
Going to the pictures and listening to the radio were the favoured pastimes, but Jimmy O’Dea,
Noel Purcell and Sean Mooney, to name but a few, could still be seen regularly in the city
theatres, while the local parish halls drew large attendances to their pantomimes and variety
concerts. It was at this type of venue that the Ballyfermot Boy’s Band made its debut. Formed in the middle fifties by Brother Thomas, the principal at the Ballyfermot School, it was directed by Brother Victor whose efforts firmly established the popularity of the band during that period. As for the Artane Boys’ Band, they were already a legend in themselves. Formed originally in
1882, their distinct brand of music has charmed Dubliners and many more for generations. It was from this varied background that the
inspiration for this collection was formed. The advent of television was just around the corner, yet its influence towards change was
still a little time off. Perhaps that era of change is best represented here by James Bartley in the
role of Sean Nolan from the popular RTE TV serial of the sixties, “Tolka Row’. It recalls the efforts of this fictional character to become a
pop star — efforts in vain, as it turned out. This nostalgic trip down memory lane is vividly enhanced by the addition of authentic Dublin sounds which, with the exception of a few, can, alas, be heard no more in their original setting. They are now just a small piece of social history.
I've been North and I've been South
I've been East and West
I've been just a rolling stone
Yet there's one place on this earth
I've always liked the best
Just a little town I call my own
For Dublin can beheaven
With coffee at eleven
And a stroll in Stephen's Green
There's no need to hurry
There's no need to worry
You're a king and the lady's a queen
Grafton Street's a wonderland
There's magic in the air
There's diamonds in the lady's eyes
And gold-dust in her hair
And if you don't believe me
Come and meet me there
In Dublin on a sunny Summer morning
I've been here and I've been there
I've sought the rainbow's end
But no crock of gold I've found
Now I know that come what will
Whatever fate may send
Here my roots are deep in friendly ground
For Dublin can be heaven
With coffee at eleven
And a stroll in Stephen's green
There's no need to hurry
There's no need to worry
You're the king and the lady's a queen
Grafton Street's a wonderland
There's magic in the air
There's diamonds in the lady's eyes
And gold-dust in her hair
And if you don't believe me
Come and meet me there
In Dublin on a sunny Summer morning
And if you don't believe me
Come and meet me there
In Dublin on a sunny Summer morning,
I've been East and West
I've been just a rolling stone
Yet there's one place on this earth
I've always liked the best
Just a little town I call my own
For Dublin can beheaven
With coffee at eleven
And a stroll in Stephen's Green
There's no need to hurry
There's no need to worry
You're a king and the lady's a queen
Grafton Street's a wonderland
There's magic in the air
There's diamonds in the lady's eyes
And gold-dust in her hair
And if you don't believe me
Come and meet me there
In Dublin on a sunny Summer morning
I've been here and I've been there
I've sought the rainbow's end
But no crock of gold I've found
Now I know that come what will
Whatever fate may send
Here my roots are deep in friendly ground
For Dublin can be heaven
With coffee at eleven
And a stroll in Stephen's green
There's no need to hurry
There's no need to worry
You're the king and the lady's a queen
Grafton Street's a wonderland
There's magic in the air
There's diamonds in the lady's eyes
And gold-dust in her hair
And if you don't believe me
Come and meet me there
In Dublin on a sunny Summer morning
And if you don't believe me
Come and meet me there
In Dublin on a sunny Summer morning,
Aoife Scott Singer of The Dublin Saunter
About The Song
this song is a love letter to Dublin, sung by someone who’s wandered the world like a homesick seagull but finally admits the truth: nowhere on earth can beat the capital on a sunny day (especially if you’ve had a coffee and a scone).
The singer’s been North, South, East, and West — roaming about like a lost suitcase — but he’s found that all roads eventually lead back to that “little town I call my own.”
It’s the emotional equivalent of realizing you’ve tasted every beer in Europe… but nothing hits like a quiet pint at home.
Then comes the heart of the song:
“Dublin can be heaven — with coffee at eleven — and a stroll in Stephen’s Green.”
This is Dublin at its best:
- The sun’s out (miracle!)
- The ducks are quacking
- People are pretending to work
- Life is moving at the pace of a sleepy snail
“Sure it’ll all get done eventually, maybe, who knows.”
Then it’s off to Grafton Street — Dublin’s catwalk of characters.
You get:
- buskers playing trad
- tourists dodging pigeons
- shopgirls winking like they’re auditioning for Hollywood
- and locals people-watching like it’s a national sport
or maybe the sun is just reflecting off her earrings and dry shampoo — but either way it works.
The message is clear:
He’s chased dreams and rainbows — he’s gone looking for the legendary crock of gold — and found only over-priced rent and disappointing sandwiches elsewhere.
But back home?
His roots go deep like old turf.
Dublin isn’t just a place — it’s his grounding, his comfort, his identity.
In short, the song is:
- sentimental
- sunny
- proud
- wistful
- and charm-soaked
“The world is grand — but Dublin is home. And on a bright summer morning, it’s the finest place on God’s green earth.”
And if you don’t buy that --
he’ll happily meet you there and prove it with:
- coffee
- banter
- and a stroll through the heart of the city.
Song Lyrics With Guitar Chords
(G) I've been North and (e) I've been South
(G) I've been East and (e) West
I've (G) been just a (e *) rolling (D) stone (D7)
(G) Yet there's one place (e) on this earth
I've (G) always liked the (e)best
(G) Just a little (e *)town I call my (D) own (D7)
For (G) Dublin can be (e) heaven
With (G) coffee at e-(e)-leven
And a (a) stroll in Stephen's (D) Green (D7)
(G) There's no need to (e) hurry
(G) There's no need to (e) worry
You're a (a) king and the lady's a (D) queen (D7)
(G) Grafton Street's a (e) wonderland
There's (G) magic in the (e) air
There's (a) diamonds in the lady's eyes
And (D) gold-dust in her (D7) hair
And (G) if you don't be-(e)-lieve me
(C) Come and meet me (a) there
In (D) Dublin on a (D7) sunny Summer (C) mor-(G)-ning
I've been here and I've been there
I've sought the rainbow's end
But no crock of gold I've found
Now I know that come what will
Whatever fate may send
Here my roots are deep in friendly ground
For Dublin can be heaven
With coffee at eleven
And a stroll in Stephen's green
There's no need to hurry
There's no need to worry
You're the king and the lady's a queen
Grafton Street's a wonderland
There's magic in the air
There's diamonds in the lady's eyes
And gold-dust in her hair
And if you don't believe me
Come and meet me there
In Dublin on a sunny Summer morning
And if you don't believe me
Come and meet me there
In Dublin on a sunny Summer morning,
written by Leo Maguire. Originally recorded by Noel Purcell in the 1940s and later by Paddy Reilly and Maureen Potter. Leo Maguire was a Jackeen who wrote over one hundred songs, his most famous being The Whistling Gypsy, Maguire was born in 1903 and died in 1985, he worked for the national broadcaster R.T.E. presenting the radio programme The Waltons Show where he played ballads for thirty years. The man who sings the song is the bold Paddy Reilly from Dublin who was the front man in The Dubliners for a few years. Paddy became famous overnight when he had a massive hit with the Pete St. John Song ''The Fields Of Athenry'' .
(G) I've been North and (e) I've been South
(G) I've been East and (e) West
I've (G) been just a (e *) rolling (D) stone (D7)
(G) Yet there's one place (e) on this earth
I've (G) always liked the (e)best
(G) Just a little (e *)town I call my (D) own (D7)
For (G) Dublin can be (e) heaven
With (G) coffee at e-(e)-leven
And a (a) stroll in Stephen's (D) Green (D7)
(G) There's no need to (e) hurry
(G) There's no need to (e) worry
You're a (a) king and the lady's a (D) queen (D7)
(G) Grafton Street's a (e) wonderland
There's (G) magic in the (e) air
There's (a) diamonds in the lady's eyes
And (D) gold-dust in her (D7) hair
And (G) if you don't be-(e)-lieve me
(C) Come and meet me (a) there
In (D) Dublin on a (D7) sunny Summer (C) mor-(G)-ning
I've been here and I've been there
I've sought the rainbow's end
But no crock of gold I've found
Now I know that come what will
Whatever fate may send
Here my roots are deep in friendly ground
For Dublin can be heaven
With coffee at eleven
And a stroll in Stephen's green
There's no need to hurry
There's no need to worry
You're the king and the lady's a queen
Grafton Street's a wonderland
There's magic in the air
There's diamonds in the lady's eyes
And gold-dust in her hair
And if you don't believe me
Come and meet me there
In Dublin on a sunny Summer morning
And if you don't believe me
Come and meet me there
In Dublin on a sunny Summer morning,
written by Leo Maguire. Originally recorded by Noel Purcell in the 1940s and later by Paddy Reilly and Maureen Potter. Leo Maguire was a Jackeen who wrote over one hundred songs, his most famous being The Whistling Gypsy, Maguire was born in 1903 and died in 1985, he worked for the national broadcaster R.T.E. presenting the radio programme The Waltons Show where he played ballads for thirty years. The man who sings the song is the bold Paddy Reilly from Dublin who was the front man in The Dubliners for a few years. Paddy became famous overnight when he had a massive hit with the Pete St. John Song ''The Fields Of Athenry'' .
Noel Purcell
The Dublin Saunter Lyrics
The Dublin Saunter Sheet Music Key Of C. Same Key As Paddy Reilly
