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You have probably heard the songs they sing before.
Maybe there are some lyrics you didn't understand, or new songs you never heard.
The purpose of this thread is to discuss and understand their music.

I want to start with "Rocky Road to Dublin" which is a fast tune so you may miss some of the lyrics.
The tune was written in the 1800's and was played at a Feis Cheoil (music festival) in Belfast in 1898.
It has been recorded by numerous Irish groups since the 1950's.
You need to know some background....until the last 10 years, most of the young men of Ireland had to go to England to find work. The main industry, almost the only industry in Ireland, was agriculture. So, not having any cars, they would make their way to Dublin or Dun Laoghaire, to catch the ferry. The Irish ferry was Dublin to Liverpool and had draught Guinness on board. The British ferry went from Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead.
(I have used both ferries, and of course prefer the Irish one with the Guinness!)

Many of the Irish would find work in construction, others would work in offices.

(An interesting aside: Michael Collins made the same trip to England, and went to work in a Post Office for the British Civil Service...straight into the lion's den...what he learned proved very useful later! While there he quickly found the Irish community, joined the GAA, played Gaelic Football and also joined Sinn Fein)

Anyhow, back to the song.
This young man is from Tuam, (pronounced chume, rhymes with broom) in County Galway.
It was Summer and a busy time for farmers, so he was able to find work as he made his way along the rocky road to Dublin.
"Saluted father dear" does not mean a military-style salute, but probably a handshake and a blessing.
The Irish word "bróg" (pronounced brogue) means shoe.
"A drop o' the pure" would be poteen, or Irish moonshine.
He was carrying all he owned in a bundle, which was stolen off his shillelagh in Dublin.
When he asked who stole it, they couldn't understand his Connacht accent.

He almost missed the ferry and had a very uncomfortable ride.
When he got off the ferry in Liverpool, the young men there were mocking him and insulting Ireland, so he let fly with the shillelagh and some passing guys from Galway joined him.
The Irish won the fight and must have done some damage, because they had to return to Dublin.

Rocky Road to Dublin

From: Songs of Ireland
words and music traditional

In the merry month of May, From my home I started,
Left the girls of Tuam, Nearly broken hearted,
Saluted father dear, Kissed my darlin' mother,
Drank a pint of beer, My grief and tears to smother,
Then off to reap the corn, And leave where I was born,
I cut a stout blackthorn, To banish ghost and goblin,
In a brand new pair of brogues, I rattled o'er the bogs,
And frightened all the dogs,On the rocky road to Dublin.

    One, two, three, four five,
    Hunt the hare and turn her
    Down the rocky road
    And all the ways to Dublin,
    Whack-fol-lol-de-ra.

In Mullingar that night, I rested limbs so weary,
Started by daylight, Next mornin' light and airy,
Took a drop of the pure, To keep my heart from sinkin',
That's an Irishman's cure, Whene'er he's on for drinking.
To see the lasses smile, Laughing all the while,
At my curious style, 'Twould set your heart a-bubblin'.
They asked if I was hired, The wages I required,
Till I was almost tired, Of the rocky road to Dublin.

In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity,
To be so soon deprived, A view of that fine city.
Then I took a stroll, All among the quality,
My bundle it was stole, In a neat locality;
Something crossed my mind, Then I looked behind;
No bundle could I find, Upon my stick a wobblin'.
Enquirin' for the rogue, They said my Connacht brogue,
Wasn't much in vogue, On the rocky road to Dublin.

From there I got away, My spirits never failin'
Landed on the quay As the ship was sailin';
Captain at me roared, Said that no room had he,
When I jumped aboard, A cabin found for Paddy,
Down among the pigs I played some funny rigs,
Danced some hearty jigs, The water round me bubblin',
When off Holyhead, I wished myself was dead,
Or better far instead, On the rocky road to Dublin.

The boys of Liverpool, When we safely landed,
Called myself a fool; I could no longer stand it;
Blood began to boil, Temper I was losin',
Poor ould Erin's isle They began abusin',
"Hurrah my soul," sez I, My shillelagh I let fly;
Some Galway boys were by, Saw I was a hobble in,
Then with a loud hurray, They joined in the affray.
We quickly cleared the way, For the rocky road to Dublin.

Thanks for the information on the song, Maggie!

Thanks for that Maggie. This is one of my all time favorite songs. I just love the beat, the words, everything. Also thank you for including the info on Gen. Collins. As you are well aware he is one of my all time heroes.   

You're welcome! He's one of my heroes too. Which leads me to a surprise.....

Watch your mailbox at the weekend.......

I will wait in anticipation. Hmmm..........whatever could it be?

                               (http://www2.cruzio.com/~sbarrett/collins1.jpg)

Maggie,
There is nothing to say.
The Big Fella!!

Thanks for the story and the words Maggie.  I've listened to the song by them on You Tube.  I really prefer their music, in my opinion, they are much more traditional.  I will definitely go see them when they get to Houston!

Maggie, I think that it's the merry month of June not May.

Funny story for ye.......

While in the WMFE Studio on Saturday, The High Kings sang "Jimmy Murphy".

When they got to the rather complicated chorus, the Presenter, Catherine McManus, almost had a fit laughing......she pointed at the monitor screen and said
"you should see the closed captioning trying to keep up with that!"

The song is about the days when British Press Gangs went around Ireland forcing young men to join the British Military, especially the Navy, and marched them off in a chain gang.
Incidentally, some of these young men, when shipped to the 13 Colonies to fight in the War of 1812, jumped ship and joined the American cause.


JIMMY MURPHY:

"T'was down in Kilkenny the great row was making
And poor little Jimmy Murphy was the last to be taken

CHORUS: We are far from the last rout
     From the East to Downpatrick
     Where lies poor little Jimmy Murphy
     On the sweet green mossy banks
     skinnymalink killymajoe whisky frisky tooraloo
     Rank a diddle dido ding dural i doe!

We gathered our pikes, our flintlocks and great branches
And straight to Wexford town we made our advances

We took Vinegar Hill, Enniscorthy and Gorey
T'was the boys of the Cork Militia that deprived us the glory

We marched through the town and we marched through the city
Our hands were tied behind us and the ladies cried "Pity."

Now Jimmy Murphy was hanged - not for sheepstealing
But for courting a pretty maid and her name was Kate Whelan."

I love that song.  The chorus isn't bad on that song until you get to the last chorus and  they add some to it, then I get lost!

I tried to sing along, and failed miserably. :D

.

Since the peace appears to be holding, I agree that the Rebel songs might be a tad out of place. The Clancys did their fair job  of getting the songs to teh Americans. I learned them from teh Clancys and from my Sister in laws Family.  My brother's bachelor party was filled with the Rebel songs.

Now that I know more of my Irish kin folk, the song mean more.

They were great songs.  ;D

Jim

I still remember the joke about the Irishman who goes to confession and lists all the trucks blown up, etc. The priest chastises him . Quit talkin Politics and confess your sins. <g>

There is even a reference  (a couple of times) to the IRA in Quiet Man.

Now that I know a wee bit more of the family history, it hits closer to home than before.

Jim

I love Jimmp Murphy! And I know what you mean Jim about the songs meaning more when you know a little bit about them. *short family history then I will get back on topic* While researching my paternal family history I came across a little bit of something. Apparently there was this Lord in England and he had two sons. One of them came to america and settled in northern PA. The other one inherated his fathers land and his son "was removed" to County Kilkenny where he aquired land from the local Lord there. It however is family lore that he actually was deported to Ireland from England. How true we don't know. I like the story though because eventhough I don't have any ancestors that were from Ireland, I at least have some history there!

*back on topic*
Maggie, I was listening to Fields of Glory yesterday and my dad asked me some things. What exactly is the Football mentioned. I know its not american football and its not soccer. The other thing what is the "clarian" (however you spell it ;)) call also mentioned? Could you (or someone who knows) please explain further? Thanks

Irish Folk/Celtic Folk/American Folk, in fact all fold music in general, the music and lyrics and generally are based on a true fact and time in history passed down through the generations in song form ... to me that is what makes the music so unique and wonderful as it preserves a piece of history

THK does their family proud with their renditions of songs originally recorded from another era.

Safe Journeys & God Bless
~Marsha~

Agrees with ya Marsha!!!!!