Story Behind The Song

This song is partly about a ghost story, partly about the Irish mythological hero Cu Chullain, and partly about my Grandfather, who has always defined true heroism to me.

Song Description

A ghostly meeting one stormy night with the worn out hero of a different century, "dogs of war" is impelled by a haunting harp melody and thundering bodhran.

Lyrics

are you weary? oh so weary? I can see it in your smile
bruised and battered, but you mattered, come and sit you down a while

the hound of ulster, when he left her, left all his battles won
like the stream where he killed his best friend, and the beach where he killed his son

and he failed, as we all do, but before God and heaven he tried
just a man of sin and frailty, to fight an immortal tide

give me something to believe in, I don?t sleep much anymore
and tell me where they?ve wandered, all those lonely dogs of war

in the silence after midnight, I have heard them passing by
and their cries light up the landscape, like lightning from the sky

and it?s not the trappings of the story, all the worn out rags of worn out glory
what makes a myth last till today, is how they chose to give themselves away
and I don?t know how to give myself away

but that was long ago, shut the window, for outside the night is wild
in the storm those voices raging, come and sit you down a while

are you weary, oh so weary, I can see it in your smile
bruised and battered, but you mattered, come and sit you down?