LAS VEGAS (IN THE HILLS OF DONEGAL)
“Las Vegas (In the Hills of Donegal)” is a song by the Irish folk rock group Goats Don’t Shave. It was a top 10 hit for the band in 1992, reaching #4 on the Irish singles chart.
The lyrics of the song tell of the speaker’s desire to turn County Donegal, described to be fame-less and unknown, into a gambling hub, ala Las Vegas. He speaks of walling it off from the rest of Ireland while legalizing casinos and brothels. There are several references made to people from popular and business culture including Jack the Ripper, Neil Blaney, Brigitte Nielsen, Mike Tyson and Donald Trump.
It was first released by the Goats Don’t Shave in 1992 with the release of their album, The Rusty Razor. The song found new popularity in the 2000s, not only among people from County Donegal, but people from all over Ireland. The album was a mix of modern material and traditional Irish folk written mostly by Pat Gallagher; their second album ‘Out In the Open’ harked back to Pat’s rockier days with his band 3PM, a very good mix of rock and folk.
The song has been covered by many other artists including The Dubliners and The Saw Doctors.
You may talk about Atlantis, how it’s lost
beneath the sea
Or the grave of the unknown soldier and the
cry of the old banshee
Who was the man in the iron mask, was Jack
the ripper set free?
But ask them all where’s Donegal, and it’s
still a mystery
And if I could I’d build a wall around auld
Donegal
The north and south to keep them out, my
god I’d build it tall
Casinos, chicken ranches, I’d legalize them
all
We’d have our own Las Vegas in the hills of
Donegal
Yeah, Las Vegas in the hills of Donegal
Playboy clubs and all night pubs, black
jack and roulette
Mel Gibson, Brigitte Nielsen, Mike Tyson
having a bet
Inishowen would then be known for it’s
multi-millionaires
Where Donald Trump would have a chunk to
live in solitaire
And if I could I’d build a wall around auld
Donegal
The north and south to keep them out, my
god I’d build it tall
Casinos, chicken ranches, I’d legalize them
all
We’d have our own Las Vegas in the hills of
Donegal
Yeah, Las Vegas in the hills of Donegal
To stand on top of Errigal would give me
such a thrill
I’ve heard them say in Dublin there’s gold
in them there hills
So don’t despair, ‘cos if you dare, the
answer lies with me
There’s a wall that’s steep and it’s going
cheap somewhere in Germany
And if I could I’d build a wall around auld
Donegal
The north and south to keep them out, my
god I’d build it tall
Casinos, chicken ranches, I’d legalize them
all
We’d have our own Las Vegas in the hills of
Donegal
Yeah, Las Vegas in the hills of Donegal