About Me

Jonny Dongel was born in Bristol England in 1973 to an English mother and Irish father. He lived in Bristol until his late teens. After ‘Sodding Up’ his “A” levels and any chance at a proper future he moved to London where he spent a decade as a working class hero in nearly every pub and restaurant on the west end. He also bought a guitar and started writing about his experiences chasing “birds” and exploring the old hangouts of the idols of his youth. The Clash, Sex Pistols and Pogues were never far from his mind. These songs were sadly only heard by his closest mates and a few neighbors in his thin walled flat.

In 2001 Jonny made a big move to New York City. The reason for this move isn’t entirely clear other than he was overheard one night saying that is sounded like a smashing place when Shane McGowan sang about it. Once in New York he landed a gig as the guitar player for the Brooklyn based band “Crashed Ashes”. This lasted a few years until he parted company with the band because “That wanker of a singer wouldn’t play any of my stuff”.

After this ill-fated attempt at rock stardom Jonny went back to his room and started writing again. The results are now coming to fruition with the soon to be released album “A Bird in the Hand”. Enjoy the songs previewed on this site. There will be more album news to come early next year!

My Interests

I'd like to meet:

View Jonny Dongel at Punx Dot Com

Music:

The Cause

The dawn of another day
History will have its say
Blame from another way
Got us in these straights today

Fighting over king and country
Hoping to return
Essence of that pioneering
Burning in the cause

Of a troubled land
Get up now and make a stand
Change for the common man
Forge another way again

Take the reins and agitate
Those who’d leave us up to fate
For all the souls who’ve gone before us

Fighting for the

Get on up now
Fight for your country
Get on up now
Fight for the cause

The cause will change the way
History will have its say
The dawn of another day
We are…

Fighting for the cause
In a troubled land
Get up now and make a stand
For change is a come in’ man
We are…

Fighting for the cause
In a troubled land
Get up now and make a stand
For change is a come in’ man
We are fighting for the cause

Mighty Irish

From the Rising of the Moon
To the Wearing of the Green
Some stood defiant
While others crossed the sea
But all stuck together
Wrapped in Celtic pride
Raise your voice for the living
And a pint for those who died

Mighty Irish – Mighty Irish
For those who lived the history
We’re here to raise a glass

Might Irish – Mighty Irish
They gave us shit
We shoveled it
Right back up their arse

Easter sun was rising
Blood across the land
Bobby he wore blankets
Wrapped in prison sand
Five human rights
A death for who demands
Freedom for living
In this blessed emerald land

Mighty Irish – Mighty Irish
The bastard sons of history
Are here to raise a glass

Might Irish – Mighty Irish
They gave us shit
We shoveled it
Right back up their arse

Here For The Music

It’s Five O’clock
You hear the whistle blow
It doesn’t really blow
But you know it’s time to go

Heading for the local
A hundred voices strong
We’re here for the music
We’re here for the song

The band starts playing
Sweet Molly Malone
A whisky and a Céilí
alive and living on

Passed from generation
Tradition fights on
We’re here for the music
We’re here for the song

Carry On
Down Sober Lane
Pop a Cork
Father Mathew still abstains

You have to take the high road
To reach old Johnny Fox
But coming down the hill mate
Is still the hardest part

Passed through generations
From father to a son
We’re here for the music
We’re here for the song

Lay me out
When all is said and done
Sweet Molly came calling
She poured the last one

One last chance
Before the night is gone
You might leave by yourself mate
But you won’t come back alone

Passed from generation
This part of us lives on
We’re here for the music
We’re here for the song

We’re here for the music
We’re here for the song

A Fifth Of Nowhere

A fifth of nowhere - A fifth of nowhere
A fifth of nowhere

14 hours since I left my baby
And I got me a fifth of nowhere
Screaming down life’s endless highway
Head back, bottoms up, haven’t got a care
Righteous on a Friday night
Kicking up a fuss
Age-old songs tell age-old stories (and)
Each new curse strikes deeper than the first

14 days since I left my baby
And I got me a fifth of nowhere
Just another lifeless by-way
Head straight, seat up, trying not to care
Mindless on a Saturday
Thinking makes it worse
Age-old songs tell age-old stories (and)
Each new curse strikes deeper than the first

A fifth of nowhere - A fifth of nowhere

14 months since I left my baby
You’d think I ought to be somewhere
Spun my wheels, kicked up some dust
Head down, lights out, haven’t got a prayer
Some hits make you stronger
Some hits can’t be nursed
Age-old songs tell age-old stories (and)
Each new curse strikes deeper than the first

I don’t know what I’ve become
I don’t know where I belong
14 months and 14 days
Since I got me a fifth of nowhere
Still I think about it
If I could just kick it in reverse
Age-old songs tell age-old stories (and)
Each new curse strikes deeper than the first
Each new curse strikes deeper than the first
Each new curse strikes deeper than the first

A fifth of nowhere - A fifth of nowhere