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Irish Songs
 

 

Love Is Pleasing


I wish I wish I wish in vain
I wish I was a youth again
But a youth again I can never be
Till apples grow an Ivy tree

Chorus:
O love is pleasing and love is teasing
And love is a pleasure when first it's new
But as it grows older sure a love grows colder
And it fades away like the morning dew

I left me father I left me mother
I left all me sisters and brothers too
I left all me friends and me own relations
I left them all for to follow you
Chorus
But the sweetest apple is the soonest rotten
And the hottest love is the soonest cold
And what can't be cured love must endured love
And now I am bound for Americay

Chorus

And love and porter makes a young man older
And love and whiskey makes him old and grey
And what can't be cured love must be endured love
And now I am bound for Americay

Chorus


Ringsend Rose


In Dublin Town there lived a girl
Fairer than the flower I'm wearin
'Rose Donoghue--all fresh and new
And I love her past all carin'
Chorus:
And there she goes my Ringsend Rose
In God's Garden there's none rarer
And there she goes my Ringsend Rose
Dublin Town has seen none fairer
Sweet seventeen, my seamstress queen
She's no bigger than a thimble
Soft satin skin, street Arab's grin
Sure she makes the work looks simple
Chorus:
Three yards of lace to walk with grace
And the golden ring she's askin
'The savin's slow--ah but still I know
That our love is ever-lasting
Chorus:


Whiskey In The Jar


As I was going over the far famed Kerry mountains

I met with captain Farrell and his money he was counting.

I first produced my pistol, and then produced my rapier.

Said stand and deliver, for I am a bold deceiver,

musha ring dumma do damma da

whack for the daddy 'ol

whack for the daddy 'ol

there's whiskey in the jar


I counted out his money,

and it made a pretty penny.

I put it in my pocket and I took it home to Jenny.

She said and she swore, that she never would deceive me,

but the devil take the women, for they never can be easy
I went into my chamber, all for to take a slumber,

I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure it was no wonder.

But Jenny took my charges and she filled them up with water,

Then sent for captain Farrel to be ready for the slaughter.
It was early in the morning, as I rose up for travel,

The guards were all around me and likewise captain Farrel.

I first produced my pistol, for she stole away my rapier,

But I couldn't shoot the water so a prisoner I was taken.
If anyone can aid me,

it's my brother in the army,

If I can find his station down in Cork or in Killarney.

And if he'll come and save me, we'll go roving near Kilkenny,

And I swear he'll treat me better than me darling sportling Jenny
Now some men take delight in the drinking and the roving,But others take delight in the gambling and the smoking.

But I take delight in the juice of the barley,

And courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early


The Streets Of London

Have you seen the old man in the closed down market

Kicking up the papers in his worn out shoes
In his eyes you see no pride and held loosely by his side
Yesterday's papers, telling yesterday's news


Chorus: So how can you tell me, you're lonely
And that for you the sun don't shine
Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London
I'll show you something to make you change you mind

Have you seen the old girl who walks the streets of London
Dirt in her hair and her clothes in rags
She's no time for talking; she just keeps right on walking
Carrying her home in two carrier bags

Chorus

In the all night cafe at a quarter past eleven
The same old man sitting there all alone
Looking at the world over the rim of his tea cup
Each tea last and hour, then she wanders home alone

Chorus



Have you seen the old man outside the seaman's mission
His memory fading like the medal ribbons that he wears
In our winter city, the rain cries a little pity
For one more forgotten hero in a world that doesn't care

Chorus


Tabhair dom do lamh

Just give me your hand,
Tabhair dom do lámh.
Just give me your hand
And I'll walk with you,
Through the streets of our land,
Through the mountains so grand,
If you give me your hand.

Just give me your hand,
And come along with me.
Will you give me your hand,
And the world it can see,
That we can be free,
In peace and harmony?
From the north to the south.
From the east to the west.
Every mountain, every valley,
Every bush and birds nest!

Chorus:
By day and night,
Through all struggle and strife,
And beside you, to guide you,
Forever, my love.
For love's not for one,
But for both of us to share.
For our country so fair,
For our world and what's there.


Just give me your hand,
Tabhair dom do lámh.
Just give me your hand,
For the world it is ours.
All the sea and the land,
To destroy or command,
If you give me your hand.

Just give me your hand,
In a gesture of peace.
Will you give me your hand
And all troubles will cease,
For the strong and the weak,
For the rich and the poor?
All peoples and creeds,
Let's meet their needs.
With a passion, we can fashion,
a new world of love!

Chorus:
By day and night,
Through all struggle and strife,
And beside you, to guide you,
Forever, my love.
For love's not for one,
But for both of us to share.
For our country so fair,
For our world and what's there.

Won't you give me your hand?

31 years we're still here and enjoying the same gags!


Patriot Game

Come all ye young rebels, and list while I sing,
For the love of one's country is a terrible thing.
It banishes fear with the speed of a flame,
And it makes us all part of the patriot game.
My name is O'Hanlon, and I've just turned sixteen.
My home is in Monaghan, and where I was weaned
I learned all my life cruel England's to blame,
So now I am part of the patriot game.
This Ireland of ours has too long been half free.
Six counties lie under John Bull's tyranny.
But still De Valera is greatly to blame
For shirking his part in the Patriot game.
They told me how Connolly was shot in his chair,
His wounds from the fighting all bloody and bare.
His fine body twisted, all battered and lame
They soon made me part of the patriot game.
It's nearly two years since I wandered away
With the local battalion of the bold IRA,
For I read of our heroes, and wanted the same
To play out my part in the patriot game.


Lullaby of London


As I walked down by the riverside

One evening in the spring

Heard a long gone song

From days gone by

Blown in on the great North wind

Though there is no lonesome corncrake's cry

Or sorrow and delight

You can hear the cars

And the shouts from bars

And the laughter and the fights

May the ghosts that howled

Round the house at night

Never keep you from your sleep

May they all sleep tight

Down in hell tonight

Or where ever they may be

As I walked on with a heavy heart

Then a stone danced on the tide

And the song went on

Though the lights were gone

And the North wind gently sighed

And an evening breeze coming from the East

That kissed the riverside


So I pray now child that you sleep tonight

When you hear this lullaby

May the wind that blows from haunted graves

Never bring you misery

May the angels bright

Watch you tonight

And keep you while you sleep


The Rocky Road To Dublin

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 ax'd 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.


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


The Foggy Dew


As down the glen one Easter morn to a city fair rode I
There Armed lines of marching men in squadrons passed me by
No fife did hum nor battle drum did sound it's dread tatoo
But the Angelus bell o'er the Liffey swell
rang out through the foggy dew

Right proudly high over Dublin Town they hung out the flag of war
'Twas better to die 'neath an Irish sky than at Sulva or Sud El Bar
And from the plains of Royal Meath strong men came hurrying through
While Britannia's Huns, with their long range guns
sailed in through the foggy dew

'Twas Britannia bade our Wild Geese go that small nations might be free
But their lonely graves are by Sulva's waves or the shore of the Great North Sea
Oh, had they died by Pearse's side or fought with Cathal Brugha
Their names we will keep where the fenians sleep
'neath the shroud of the foggy dew

But the bravest fell, and the requiem bell rang mournfully and clear
For those who died that Eastertide in the springing of the year
And the world did gaze, in deep amaze, at those fearless men, but few
Who bore the fight that freedom's light
might shine through the foggy dew

Ah, back through the glen I rode again and my heart with grief was sore
For I parted then with valiant men whom I never shall see more
But to and fro in my dreams I go and I'd kneel and pray for you,
For slavery fled, O glorious dead,
When you fell in the foggy dew.


The Black Velvet Band



In a neat little town they call Belfast

Apprenticed in trade I was bound

And many an hour of sweet happiness

I spent in that neat little town

Till bad misfortune befell me

And caused me to stray from the land

Far away from my friends and relations

To follow the black velvet band


Chorus

Her eyes they shone like the diamond

You'd think she was queen of the land

And her hair hung over her shoulder

Tied up in a black velvet band

Well, I was out strolling one evening

Not meaning to go very far

When I met with a pretty young damsel

She was selling her trade in a bar

When I watched, she took from a customer

And slipped it right into my hand

Then the Watch came and put me in prison

Bad luck to the black velvet band

Next morning before judge and jury

For our trial I had to appear

The judge, he said,

"Young fellow The case against you is quite clear

And seven years is your sentence

You're going to Van Dieman's Land

Far away from your friends and relations

To follow the black velvet band"

So come all you jolly young fellows

I'd have you take warning by me

And whenever you're out on the liquor

Beware of the pretty colleen

They'll fill your with whiskey and porter

Until you're not able to stand

And the very next thing that you know

You're landed in Van Dieman's Land


Victor Jara


Victor Jara of Chile lived like a shooting star

He fought for the people of Chile with his songs and his guitar

His hands were gentle and his hands were strong

Victor Jara was a peasant boy barely six years old

He sat upon his father's plough and watched the earth unfold

When the neighbours had a wedding or one of their children died

His mother sang all night to them with Victor by her side

He grew up to be a fighter stood against what was wrong

He learned of peoples grief and joy and turned it into song

He sang for the copper miners and those who farmed the land

He sang for the factory workers who knew Victor was their man

He campaigned for Allende canvassed night and day

Singing take hold of your brother's hand the future starts today

When Pinochet seized Chile they arrested Victor then -

They caged him in the stadium with 5000 frightened men

Victor picked up his guitar his voice resounded strong

And he sang for his comrades till the guards cut short his song

They broke the bones in both his hands and beat him on the head

Tortured him with electric wires then they shot him dead

Victor Jara of Chile lived like a shooting star

He fought for the people of Chile with his songs and his guitar

His hands were gentle and his hands were strong


The Ferryman


The little boat had gone from the breast of An Liffey
And the Ferrymen were stranded on the Quay
Ah the Dublin docks are dying and a way of life is gone
And sure Molly it was part of you and me

chorus...

Where the strawberry beds sweep down to the liffey
We'll kiss away the worries from my brow
I loved you well today and I'll love you more tomorrow
If you ever loved me Molly love me now

It was the only job I knew,it was hard but never lonely
The Liffey ferry made a man of me
Now it's gone without a whisper and forgotten even now
Sure it's over,Molly over can't you see

chorus...

........instrumental..........

And now I'll tell me yarn and I'll spend me days a-talkin'
And I'll hear the whisper,"Charlie's on the Dole"
But Molly we're still livin' and darlin' we're still young
And the Liffey never owned my heart and soul

chorus...

repeat chorus and last line