Farewell to Carlingford
When I was young and in my prime And could wander wild and free There was always a longing in my mind To follow the call of the sea [Chorus:] So, I’ll sing farewell to Carlingford And farewell to Greenore And I’ll think of you both day and night Until I return once more Until I return once more On all of the stormy seven seas I have sailed before the mast And on every voyage I ever made I swore it would be my last [Chorus] Now, I had a girl called Mary Doyle And she lived in Greenore And the foremost thought was in her mind Was to keep me safe on shore [Chorus] Now, the landsman’s life is all his own He can go or he can stay But when the sea gets in your blood When she calls, you must obey [Chorus]
Finnegan’s Wake
Tim Finnegan lived in Walkin Street, a gentle Irishman mighty odd He had a brogue both rich and sweet, an' to rise in the world he carried a hod You see he’d a sort of a tipplers way but the love for the liquor poor Tim was born To help him on his way each day, he’d a drop of the craythur every morn Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner around the flure yer trotters shake Wasn’t it the truth I told you? Lots of fun at Finnegan’s Wake One morning Tim got rather full, his head felt heavy which made him shake Fell from a ladder and he broke his skull, and they carried him home his corpse to wake Rolled him up in a nice clean sheet, and laid him out upon the bed A bottle of whiskey at his feet and a barrel of porter at his head His friends assembled at the wake, and Mrs Finnegan called for lunch First she brought in tay and cake, then pipes, tobacco and whiskey punch Biddy O’Brien began to cry, "Such a nice clean corpse, did you ever see Tim avourneen, why did you die?", "Will ye hould your gob?" said Paddy McGee Then Maggie O’Connor took up the job, "Biddy" says she "you’re wrong, I’m sure" Biddy gave her a belt in the gob and left her sprawling on the floor Then the war did soon engage, t’was woman to woman and man to man Shillelagh law was all the rage and a row and a ruction soon began Mickey Maloney ducked his head when a bucket of whiskey flew at him It missed, and falling on the bed, the liquor scattered over Tim Bedad he revives, see how he rises, Timothy rising from the bed Saying "Whittle your whiskey around like blazes, t’underin' Jaysus, do ye think I’m dead?"
Whiskey in the Jar
As I was a goin' over the far famed Kerry mountains I met with captain Farrell and his money he was counting I first produced my pistol and I then produced my rapier Saying "Stand and deliver" for he were a bold deceiver Mush-a ring dum-a do dum-a da Whack for my daddy-o Whack for my daddy-o There’s whiskey in the jar I counted out his money and it made a pretty penny I put it in me pocket and I took it home to Jenny She sighed and she swore that she never would deceive me But the devil take the women for they never can be easy Mush-a ring dum-a do dum-a da Whack for my daddy-o Whack for my daddy-o There’s whiskey in the jar I went up to my chamber, all for to take a slumber I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure 't was no wonder But Jenny drew me charges and she filled them up with water Then sent for captain Farrell to be ready for the slaughter Mush-a ring dum-a do dum-a da Whack for my daddy-o Whack for my daddy-o There’s whiskey in the jar 'Twas was early in the morning, just before I rose to travel Up comes a band of footmen and likewise captain Farrell I first produced me pistol for she stole away me rapier I couldn’t shoot the water, so a prisoner I was taken Mush-a ring dum-a do dum-a da Whack for my daddy-o Whack for my daddy-o There’s whiskey in the jar Now there’s some take delight in the carriages a-rollin' And others take delight in the hurling and the bowling But I take delight in the juice of the barley And courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early Mush-a ring dum-a do dum-a da Whack for my daddy-o Whack for my daddy-o There’s whiskey in the jar If anyone can aid me 't is my brother in the army If I can find his station in Cork or in Killarney And if he’ll go with me, we’ll go rovin' through Killkenny And I’m sure he’ll treat me better than my own a-sporting Jenny Mush-a ring dum-a do dum-a da Whack for my daddy-o Whack for my daddy-o There’s whiskey in the jar
Free the People
Laws were made for people And the law can never scorn The right of a man to be free Free the people! Let them have their say Free the people! Let them see the light of day A dismal dawn was breaking when they took her man away Not knowing what was his crime Just what he was guilty of not one of them could say But they’ll think of something in time He says: "Goodbye and remember We shall overcome" Free the people! Let them have their say Free the people! Let them see the light of day Comforting her children softly crying in the night She tries very hard to explain You know, your Daddy never did a thing that wasn’t right So soon he’s bound to be home again He is a good man And he shall overcome Free the people! Let them have their say Free the people! Let them see the light of day What does it profit him The right to be born If he suffers the loss of liberty? Laws were made for people And the law can never scorn The right of a man to be free We are the people And we shall overcome We are the people And we shall overcome Free the people! Let them have their say Free the people! Let them see the light of day! Free the people! Let them have their say Free the people! Let them see the light of day
The Rebel
Lord of the Dance
I danced in the morning when the world was young I danced in the moon, and the stars, and the sun I came down from Heaven and I danced on the Earth At Bethlehem I had my birth Dance, then, wherever you may be I am the lord of the dance said he And I lead you all wherever you may be And I lead you all in the dance said he I danced for the scribes and the pharisees They wouldn’t dance, they wouldn’t follow me I danced for the fishermen James and John They came with me so the dance went on Dance, then, wherever you may be I am the lord of the dance said he And I lead you all wherever you may be And I lead you all in the dance said he I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame The holy people said it was a shame They ripped me and they stripped me and they hung me high Left me there on the cross to die Dance, then, wherever you may be I am the lord of the dance said he And I lead you all wherever you may be And I lead you all in the dance said he I danced on a Friday when the world turned black It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back They buried my body; they thought I was gone But I am the dance, and the dance goes on Dance, then, wherever you may be I am the lord of the dance said he And I lead you all wherever you may be And I lead you all in the dance said he
The Molly Maguires
Make way for the Molly Maguires They’re drinkers, they’re liars but they’re men Make way for the Molly Maguires You’ll never see the likes of them again Down the mines no sunlight shines Those pits they’re black as hell In modest style they do their time It’s Paddy’s prison cell And they curse the day they’ve travelled far Then drown their tears with a jar So make way for the Molly Maguires They’re drinkers, they’re liars but they’re men Make way for the Molly Maguires You’ll never see the likes of them again Backs will break and muscles ache Down there there’s no time to dream Of fields and farms, of womans arms Just dig that bloody seam Though they drain their bodies underground Who’ll dare to push them around So make way for the Molly Maguires They’re drinkers, they’re liars but they’re men Make way for the Molly Maguires You’ll never see the likes of them again So make way for the Molly Maguires They’re drinkers, they’re liars but they’re men Make way for the Molly Maguires You’ll never see the likes of them again
Champion at Keeping Them Rolling
I am an old-timer, I travel the road, I sit in me wagon and lumber me load. Me hotel is the jungle – the caff me abode. And I`m well known to Blondie and Mary. Me liquor is diesel oil laced with strong tea And the old Highway Code was me first ABC And I cut me eye-teeth on an old AEC And I`m champion at keeping them rolling. I`ve sat in the cabin and broiled in the sun Been snowed up on Shap on the Manchester run. I`ve crawled through the fog with me twenty-two ton Of fish that was stinking like blazes. From London to Glasgow to the Newcastle quay From Liverpool, Preston and Bristol city The polones on the road give the thumb sign to me But I`m champion at keeping them rolling. You might sing of your your soldiers and sailors so bold But there`s many and many a hero untold Who sits at the wheel in the the heat and the cold, Day after day without sleeping. So watch out for cops and slow down at the bend Check all your gauges and watch your big end. And zig with your lights when you pass an old friend. You`ll be champion at keeping them rolling.
The Town I Loved so Well
In my memory I will always see The town that I have loved so well Where our school played ball by the Gasyard wall And we laughed through the smoke and the smell Going home in the rain running up the dark lane Past the jail and down behind the Fountain Those were happy days in so many many ways In the town I have loved so well In the early morning the shirt-factory horn Called women from Creggan, the Moor and the Bog While the man on the dole played the mother’s role Fed the children and then trained the dogs And when times got rough there was just about enough But they saw it through without complaining For deep inside was a burning pride For the town I loved so well There was music there in the Derry air Like a language that we could all understand I remember the day when I earned my first pay As I played in the small pick-up band There I spent my youth and to tell you the truth I was sad to leave it all behind me For I’d learned 'bout life and I’ve found a wife In the town I loved so well But when I returned how my eyes have burned To see how a town could be brought to its knees By the armoured cars and the bombed-out bars And the gas that hangs on to every breeze Now the army’s installed by that old Gasyard wall And the damned barbed wire gets higher and higher With their tanks and their guns, oh my god what have they done To the town I loved so well Now the music’s gone but I still carry on For their spirit’s been bruised never broken They will not forget for their hearts are aset On tomorrow and peace once again For what’s done is done and what’s won is won And what’s lost is lost and gone forever I can only pray for a bright brand new day In the town I loved so well
Donegal Danny
I remember the night that he came in from the wintery cold and damp A giant of a man in an oilskin coat and the bundle that told he was a tramp He stood at the bar and he called a pint then turned and gazed at the fire On a night like this to be safe and dry is my one and only desire. [Chorus:] So here’s to those that are dead and gone The friends that I loved dear And here’s to you then I’ll bid you adieu Saying Donegal Danny’s been here me boys Donegal Danny’s been here Then in a voice that was hushed and low he said: Listen I’ll tell you a tale How a man of the sea became a man of the roads and never more will set sail I’ve fished out of Howth and Killybegs, Ardglass and Baltimore But the cruel sea has beaten me and I’ll end my days on the shore [Chorus] One fateful night in the wind and the rain we set sail from Killybegs town There were five of us from sweet Donegal and one from County Down We were fishermen who worked the sea and never counted the cost But I never thought when that night was done that my fine friends would all be lost [Chorus] Then the storm it broke and drove the boat to the rocks about ten miles from shore As we fought the tide we hoped inside to see our homes once more Then we struck a rock and holed the bow and all of us knew that she’d go down So we jumped right into the icy sea and prayed to God we wouldn’t drown But the raging sea was rising still as we struck out for the land And she fought with all her cruelty to claim that gallant band By St John’s Point in the early dawn I dragged myself on the shore And I cursed the sea for what she’d done and vowed to sail her never more [Chorus] Ever since that night I’ve been on the road travelling and trying to forget That awful night I lost all my friends I see their faces yet And often at night when the sea is high and the rain is tearing at my skin I hear the cries of drowning men floating over on the wind [Chorus]
Sam Hall
Oh my name it is Sam Hall chimney sweep, chimney sweep Oh my name it is Sam Hall chimney sweep Oh my name it is Sam Hall and I’ve robbed both great And small And my neck will pay for all when I die, when I die And my neck will pay for all when I die I have twenty pounds in store, that’s not all, that’s Not all I have twenty pounds in store, that’s not all I have twenty pounds in store and I’ll rob for twenty More For the rich must help the poor, so must I, so must I For the rich must help the poor, so must I Oh they took me to Cootehill in a cart, in a cart Oh they took me to Cootehill in a cart Oh they took me to Cootehill where I stopped to make my Will Saying the best of friends must part, so must I, so Must I Saying the best of friends must part, so must I Up the ladder I did grope, that’s no joke, that’s no Joke Up the ladder I did grope, that’s no joke Up the ladder I did grope and the hangman pulled the Rope And ne’er a word I spoke, tumbling down, tumbling down And ne’er a word I spoke tumbling down Oh my name it is Sam Hall chimney sweep, chimney sweep Oh my name it is Sam Hall chimney sweep Oh my name it is Sam Hall and I’ve robbed both great And small And my neck will pay for all when I die, when I die And my neck will pay for all when I die
Springhill Mining Disaster
The Night Visiting Song
I must away now, I can no longer tarry This morning’s tempest, I have to cross I must be guided without a stumble Into the arms, I love the most And when he came to his true love’s dwelling He knelt down gently upon a stone And through her window, he whispered lowly Is my true lover within, at home? Wake up, wake up, love, it is thine own true lover Wake up, wake up, love, and let me in For I am tired, love, and oh, so weary And more than near, drenched to the skin She raised her up on her down soft pillow She raised her up and she let him in And they were locked in each other’s arms Until, that long night was past and gone And when that long night was past and over And when the small clouds began to grow He took her hand and kissed, and parted And he saddled and mounted, and away he did go I must away now, I can no longer tarry This morning’s tempest, I have to cross I must be guided without a stumble Into the arms I love the most
Fiddler’s Green
As I roved by the dockside one evening so fair To view the salt waters and take in the salt air I heard an old fisherman singing a song Oh, take me away boys me time is not long Wrap me up in me oilskin and blankets No more on the docks I’ll be seen Just tell me old shipmates, I’m taking a trip mates And I’ll see you someday on Fiddlers Green Now Fiddler’s Green is a place I’ve heard tell Where the fishermen go if they don’t go to hell Where the weather is fair and the dolphins do play And the cold coast of Greenland is far, far away Now when you’re in dock and the long trip is through There’s pubs and there’s clubs and there’s lassies there too And the girls are all pretty and the beer is all free And there’s bottles of rum growing on every tree. Where the skies are all clear and there’s never a gail And the fish jump on board with one swish on their tail Where you lie at your leisure, there’s no work to do And the skipper’s below making tea for the crew Now I don’t want a harp nor a halo, not me Just give me a breeze and a good rolling sea I’ll play me old squeeze-box as we sail along With the wind in the riggin to sing me a song
Farewell to Ireland
Dirty Old Town
I met my love, By the gas works wall. Dreamed a dream, By the old canal. I kissed my girl, By the factory wall. Dirty old town, Dirty old town. Clouds are drifting, Across the moon. Cats are prowling, on their beat. Spring-s-a girl, From the streets at night. Dirty old town, Dirty old town. I heard a siren, From the docks. Saw a train, Set the night on fire. Smelled the spring, On the smoky wind. Dirty old town, Dirty old town. I’m going to make, Me a good sharp axe; Shining steel, Tempered in, the Fire. I’ll chop you down, Like an old dead tree. Dirty old town, Dirty old town. I met my love, By the gas works wall. Dreamed a dream, By the old canal. I kissed my girl, by the factory wall. Dirty old town, Dirty old town.
The Three Sea Captains
A Gentleman Soldier
Gentleman soldier Well I saw the gentleman soldier, as a sentry he did stand He saluted the fair maid by a waving of his hand So boldly then he kissed her and he passed it off as a joke He drilled her up to the sentry box Wrapped up in a soldier’s coat And the drums they go with a rat-a-ta-tat And the fifes they loudly play Fare thee well, Polly me dear, I must be going away All night they tossed and tumbled till daylight did appear The soldier rose, put on his clothes Said: 'Fare ey well, me dear' For the drums they are a sounding And the fifes they sweetly play And if it weren’t for that, my Polly Then along with you I’d stay O come, ye gentleman soldier, 'won’t you marry me?' 'Oh no, me dearest Polly such things never can be For I have a wife already and children I have three Two wives are allowed in the army But one is too many for me' If anyone comes a courting you You can treat them to a glass If anyone comes a courting you You can say you’re a country lass You don’t have to tell them That ever you played this joke That you were drilled in a sentry box Wrapped up in a soldier’s coat 'Oh come ye gentleman soldier, why didn’t you tell me so My parents will be angry when this they come to know' And when nine long months had come and passed, And purgatory got shame She had a little millitia boy And she didn’t know his name Well I saw the gentleman soldier, as a sentry he did stand He saluted the fair maid by a waving of his hand So boldly then he kissed her and he passed it off as a joke He drilled her up to the sentry box Wrapped up in a soldier’s coat And the drums they go with a rat-a-ta-tat And the fifes they loudly play Fare thee well, Polly me dear, I must be going away All night they tossed and tumbled till daylight did appear The soldier rose, put on his clothes Said: 'Fare ey well, me dear' For the drums they are a sounding And the fifes they sweetly play And if it weren’t for that, my Polly Then along with you I’d stay O come, ye gentleman soldier, 'won’t you marry me?' 'Oh no, me dearest Polly such things never can be For I have a wife already and children I have three Two wives are allowed in the army But one is too many for me' If anyone comes a courting you You can treat them to a glass If anyone comes a courting you You can say you’re a country lass You don’t have to tell them That ever you played this joke That you were drilled in a sentry box Wrapped up in a soldier’s coat 'Oh come ye gentleman soldier, why didn’t you tell me so My parents will be angry when this they come to know' And when nine long months had come and passed, And purgatory got shame She had a little millitia boy And she didn’t know his name
Seven Drunken Nights
As I went home on Monday night as drunk as drunk could be I saw a horse outside the door where my old horse should be Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me Who owns that horse outside the door where my old horse should be? Ah, you’re drunk, you’re drunk you silly old fool, still you can not see That’s a lovely sow that me mother sent to me Well, it’s many a day I’ve travelled a hundred miles or more But a saddle on a sow sure I never saw before And as I went home on Tuesday night as drunk as drunk could be I saw a coat behind the door where my old coat should be Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me Who owns that coat behind the door where my old coat should be Ah, you’re drunk, you’re drunk you silly old fool, still you can not see That’s a woollen blanket that me mother sent to me Well, it’s many a day I’ve travelled a hundred miles or more But buttons in a blanket sure I never saw before And as I went home on Wednesday night as drunk as drunk could be I saw a pipe up on the chair where my old pipe should be Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me Who owns that pipe up on the chair where my old pipe should be Ah, you’re drunk, you’re drunk you silly old fool, still you can not see That’s a lovely tin whistle that me mother sent to me Well, it’s many a day I’ve travelled a hundred miles or more But tobacco in a tin whistle sure I never saw before And as I went home on Thursday night as drunk as drunk could be I saw two boots beneath the bed where my old boots should be Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me Who owns them boots beneath the bed where my old boots should be Ah, you’re drunk, you’re drunk you silly old fool, still you can not see They’re two lovely Geranium pots me mother sent to me Well, it’s many a day I’ve travelled a hundred miles or more But laces in Geranium pots I never saw before And as I went home on Friday night as drunk as drunk could be I saw a head upon the bed where my old head should be Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me Who owns that head upon the bed where my old head should be Ah, you’re drunk, you’re drunk you silly old fool, still you can not see That’s a baby boy that me mother sent to me Well, it’s many a day I’ve travelled a hundred miles or more But a baby boy with his whiskers on sure I never saw before And as I went home on Saturday night as drunk as drunk could be I saw two hands upon her breasts where my old hands should be Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me Who owns them hands upon your breasts where my old hands should be Ah, you’re drunk, you’re drunk you silly old fool, still you can not see That’s a lovely night gown that me mother sent to me Well, it’s many a day I’ve travelled a hundred miles or more But fingers in a night gown sure I never saw before As I went home on Sunday night as drunk as drunk could be I saw a thing in her thing where my old thing should be Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me Who owns that thing in your thing where my old thing should be Ah, you’re drunk, you’re drunk you silly old fool, still you can not see That’s a lovely tin whistle that me mother sent to me Well, it’s many a day I’ve travelled a hundred miles or more But hair on a tin whistle sure I never saw before
The Louse House of Kilkenny
Oh, the first of me downfall I set out the door I straight made me way on for Carrick-on-Suir Going out by Rathronan 'twas late in the night Going out the West Gate for to view the gaslight Radley fal the diddle ay Radley fal the diddle airo I went to the town’s hall to see the big lamp And who should I meet but a bloody big tramp I finally stepped over and to him I said: "Will you kindly direct me to where I’ll get a bed?" Radley fal the diddle ay Radley fal the diddle airo 'Twas then he directed me down to Cooks Lane To where old Buck St John kept an old sleeping cage From out of the door was a small piece of board Hung out on two nails with a short piece of cord Radley fal the diddle ay Radley fal the diddle airo I looked up and down till I found out the door And a queerer old household sure I ne’er saw before Then the Misses came out and these words to me said: "If you give me three coppers, sure I’ll give you a bed" Radley fal the diddle ay Radley fal the diddle airo Well I then stood aside with me back to the wall And the next thing I saw was an oul cobbler’s stall And there was the cobbler and he mending his brogues With his hammers and pinchers all laid in a row Radley fal the diddle ay Radley fal the diddle airo Then she brought me upstairs and she put out the light And in less than five minutes I had to show fight And in less than five more when the story was best The fleas came around me and brought me a curse Radley fal the diddle ay Radley fal the diddle airo 'Twas all around me body they formed a march 'Twas all around me body they played the Death march For the bloody oul major gave me such a pick That he nearly made away with half of me hip Radley fal the diddle ay Radley fal the diddle airo Now I’m going to me study, these lines to pen down And if any poor traveller should e’er come to town And if any poor traveller should be nighted like me Beware of Buck St John and his black cavalry Radley fal the diddle ay Radley fal the diddle airo