The (Home of the) Nazarene Song - Come Follow Me

This country-style gospel song about following Jesus was written by Irish fisherman, storyteller and later (1998) Roman Catholic priest Fr. Eamonn (Eddie) Bheartla Ó Connaighle (ref and ref and ref - surname may be spelt "Ó Conghaile")

It is based on an incident off the west coast of Ireland one night in 1980 when Ó Connaighle and a friend, Bartley Casey, were caught in a raging ocean in an area that is known locally as “The Gates of Hell” (ref and ref).

It has been sung and/or recorded by a number of artists, including John "bheag" Ó Conghaile, Brendan Shine and James Kilbane.

The original title was Come Follow Me, but now the song is often simply called The Nazarene.

No published sheet music has been found, but guitar chords are available here.

Downloads

Examples

Country-style singer with guitar / band - professional recording:

Lead singer and band - professional recording:

Irish tenor with guitar and fiddle:

Singer with band, music video:

Lyrics

I am a Connemara man, I was born to be free,
I love the beauty of the land, and the magic of the sea,
I heard the stories of great men who sailed the seven seas,
And I learned the lore of an ancient folk and their love for the Nazarene.

A hunter on the mountainside, a trapper on the sea,
I love the chase, see the mountain hare throw a hound with ease,
The púcan sails to raise the spray, bringing bounty from the deep,
Not all the gold the world could hold, could buy that life from me,

One night as we had stretched our nets and the storm had increased,
A driving mist that was so thick, your hand you could not see,
The gates of hell had sucked us in, and we were doomed it seemed,
In the darkest hour before the dawn, I called on the Nazarene,

Chorus:
Come listen all good-hearted men, where ever you may be,
Our Lord is just as good today, as he was in Galilee,
Come lend a hand and help him out to feed his lambs and sheep,
You'll have ever lasting happiness in the home of the Nazarene.

There came a day, it blew a gale, no boat could go to sea,
I sat me down and a train of thought came rushing back to me,
My brave old mates with whom I sailed and harvest in the deep,
Had sailed away to the great beyond, and were now with the Nazarene,

Now all had changed and the past was pain, but I reared my family,
My loving wife and her little child were sleeping their last long sleep,
On my native shore where the wild waves roar I scanned the glistening sea,
I haul my boat upon the shore, and I followed the Nazarene.

You'll have ever lasting happiness, in the home of the Nazarene.