Song Lyrics
ADMIRAL WILLIAM BROWN
(Derek Warfield)
From a County Mayo Town came a man of great renown
As a sailor and a soldier was none bolder
He went to America at an early age they say
As a cabin boy to sail the wide world over
Then adventure took him south to the Del La Plata Mouth
San Martin was on the route in Argentina
So three whaling ships he bought and Brazil and Spain he fought
And freedom they he sought for Argentina
Now Admiral William Brown you're a man of courage shown
And in battles fought the odds were all against you
But your Irish heart was strong and in memory still lives on
And in Ireland there are some that don't forget you
On St. Patrick's Day it's told you had many victories bold
And you defeated all invaders thugs and bullies
Then through the Pampas rose and you found a happy home--
Las Islas Malvinas Argentina
He had heard of Irish hands in the noble gallant bands
That helped to free the land called Argentina
He had heard with great acclaim the Patricios name
And fame, when in 1806 the British came for slaughter
And to this very day in the Argentine they say
The English ran away from Buenos Aires
To the islands further down and they took them for the crown --
Las Islas Malvinas Argentina
We remember William Brown and his land of great renown
He, invader of the islands from your country
When 1833 where by pirates force to flee
And in Ireland sure we know the story fully
And the people that went too to the Argentine when new,
To escape the English laws and wars and famine
They proved a loyal crew just like all the Irish do--
Las Islas Malvinas Argentina
The old colonial days and the cruel English ways
With her thunder plunder we will teach the natives
For the Brits are going to war just like Whitelock did before
With her ships & guns & drums & flags & banners
In the Empire days of old when they murdered for the gold
And paraded it around the streets of London
Oh no human rights were given to the natives dead or living--
Las Islas Malvinas Argentina
In the Argentine he died Father Fahey by his side,
Fifty-seven was the year his father mourned him
A hero of the nation he's remembered with elation,
Throughout the world were freedom still abounds
And the Southern Cross take note were bold Willie Bulfin wrote
"The Irish still support you Argentina"
With the Empire tumbling down let no Paddies back the crown--
Las Islas Malvinas Argentina
From The Wolftones' "A Sense of Freedom" 1983.
AIN'T EVERY CHAP DOIN' IT, BUT YOU
When I was a lad, oh the school-master said, me lessons I never done right
And he with his cane put this knot in me brain, he drew on me head with all might
He gave me a sum that I never had done, I murmured 'twas too hard to do
Says he, "You young ass, you're the worst in the class. Ain't every chap doin' it, but you?"
Chorus:
Ain't every chap doin' it, but you, me lad?
Ain't every chap doin' it, but you?
Yourself you can blame, if you don't do the same
Ain't every chap doin' it, but you?
Me school days being o'er, one night I went out to a friend's Christmas party or ball
The girls were so fair in dozens were there, sure I got enchanted with all
With their belle and their beau and their sweet mistletoe and all of their fond kisses too
When a neighbour called Grace, she looked straight in me face, Ain't every chap doin' it, but you?
Chorus
The party being o'er it was straight to her door I conducted this fair pretty fair maid
I asked her to meet me the very next night, she didn't take long to persuade
Her promise she kept, I begged her accept, me as a fond lover too
I went to her dad, he said, "Take her me lad, ain't every chap doin' it, but you?"
Chorus
Eight years we've been wed now, I've heard people say and still there's no sign of an heir
The neighbours all wonder what we're all about, me wife she's gone mad with despair
There's my sister Kate at last count had eight and Julia the last time had two
But here is poor John and he hasn't a one, ain't every chap doin' it, but you
Chorus
Recorded by Jimmy Crowley on "Some Things Never Change" 1981
ALL FOR ME GROG
Chorus:
And it's all for me grog, me jolly, jolly grog
All for me beer and tobacco
I spent all me tin on the ladies drinkin' gin
Far across the western ocean I must wander
I'm sick in the head and I haven't been to bed
Since first I came ashore with me plunder
I've seen centipedes and snakes, me head is full of aches
And I think I'll take a path for way out yonder
Chorus
Where are me boots me noggin' noggin' boots
They're all sold for beer and tobacco
See the soles they were thin and the uppers were lettin' in
And the heels were looking out for better weather
Chorus
Where is me shirt me noggin' noggin' shirt
It's all sold for beer and tobacco
The sleeves they were worn out and the collar being turned about
And the arse is looking out for better weather
Chorus
Where is me wife me noggin' noggin' wife
She's all sold for beer and tobacco
You see her front was wore out and her tail being kicked about
And I'd say she's looking out for better weather
Chorus
Where is me bed me noggin' noggin' bed
It's all sold for beer and tobacco
You see I lent it to a whore and now the mattress is all wore
And the sheets are looking out for better weather
Chorus
ALL THE LITTLE CHILDREN
(Tommy Sands)
Little children hiding in the shadows
Waiting for the changing of the day
Watching for a break between the shadows
When they can come out and start to play
Chorus:
And we're singing of the times
When the sun will always shine
And armored cars and tanks will fade away
People will be one, and the fighting will be done
And all the little children they can play
I can hear you saying it's impossible
Just at the blood upon the road
But I don't think that it's impossible
For now we see that all our blood is red
Chorus
It seems that cure is better then prevention
If not then Doctor John would have no pay
And all kings and queens would have pensions
If all the little children they could play
Chorus
I don't suppose a man will stop this struggling
If he's lying with his upon the ground
It's only when every man is standing
That peace and justice can be found
Chorus
ALL THE TUNES IN THE WORLD
(Ewan McVicar)
Chorus:
All the Tunes In The World
Are dancing around in my head
The clock on the gantry says, play time is o'er
You'll just have to sing them instead
Lay down the borrowed guitar
Lay down the fiddle and bow
We'd like one more drink at the bar
But the manager says you must go
Lay down the jig and the reel
Lay down the planxty, the slide
Everyone knows how you feel
But there's no time to take one more ride
The barmaid has put on her coat
Barman has emptied the slops
And the manager's pals are afraid
The music will bring in the cops
ALL THE WAY FROM TUAM
(Moran/Carton)
I'm from the town drenched in football and rain that fathered the terrible twins
Tom Murphy the footballer, playwright and singer, he left to spread his wide wings
Where the dance halls once buzzing with shifts and refusals, stand silent, dejected and cold
Where they played basketball for a longer duration than anywhere else in the world
Where all the way from Tuam, all the way from Tuam
With a rock-solid spirit that'll never be broken,
There's songs to be sung and there's words to be spoken
From the town that was built where the cartwheel was broken
Where all the way from Tuam, all the way from Tuam
Where we'd spend all the weekends to help pass the winter playing soccer above in Parkmore
Or we'd travel away for a match into Galway in the swamp or out in Renmore
They'd be calling us smokies, the lads from the city; but I didn't care what they called me
Just plank it in lively across for the noodle, sham his jills with KD's a gomey
Where all the way from Tuam, all the way from Tuam
With a rock-solid spirit that'll never be broken
There's songs to be sung and there's words to be spoken
I still remember the White Star being open
Where all the way from Tuam, all the way from Tuam
Here in the town where the high king once ruled with wisdom of ages gone by
The gray stone cathedral spires are dwarfed by a tall metal tower in the sky
Where the travelers are settling, the settled gone traveling, the pubs full of gossip and humor
You'll never better the people of Tuam for their power, passion, packets and humor
Where all the way from Tuam, all the way from Tuam
With a rock-solid spirit that'll never be broken,
There's songs to be sung and there's words to be spoken
From the town that was built where the cartwheel was broken
No matter where you're from everyone's local
Where all the way from Tuam, all the way from Tuam
ALLENDE
(Don Lange)
The night hawk flies and the owl cries as we're driving down the road
Listening to the music on the all night radio show
The announcer comes on says, "if you've got ideas I'll file a patent for you.
What good's an idea that's not in the store, makin' a buck or two?"
We drive to the town but the shutters are down and the all night restaurant closed
It's the land of the free we've got booze and TV and tramps in the telephone booths
The stars and the trees and the early spring breeze say forget what assassins have done
Take the good soil in the palm of your hand and wait for tomorrow's sun
Chorus:
It's a long way from the heartland to Santiago Bay
Where the good doctor lies with blood in his eyes and the bullets read USA
A truck driver's life is a very strange life driving down the road
Carrying the goods, all the copper and wood. That's what makes American great
The dollars like swallows fly to the south where they know they've something to gain--
Allende is killed--the trucks are rolling again
The night hawk flies and the owl cries as we're driving down the road
The full moon reveals the houses and fields where good people do what they're told
A poet lies with coins in his eyes, there's no one around him to mourn
Who needs a poet who won't take commands, who'd rather make love than war?
Chorus
AN ALSATIAN ONCE AGAIN
(Dermot Morgan)
SPOKEN:
Many songs are sung and written about Emmett, Pearse and Tone
But no one knows that son of Ireland who loved to chew a bone
A patriot so fearless who fought doggedly for his nation
Not a Catholic or a Protestant but a bloody big Alsatian
SING:
Way back in 1920 when the troubles were real bad
The Black and Tans were searching houses driving people mad
Many Irish men and women lent a hand to help the cause
Here's the story of a hero that lent a pair of paws
Chorus:
And it was Fido hid the hand grenade for me
When the tans came round search the house at tea
I said Fido take this eat he thought it was a tin of meat
`Twas Fido hid the hand grenade for me
The Black and Tans they search the house but not a thing was found
They looked for guns and bullets but they never checked the hound
They scorned and mocked and jeered us with their laughter and their tone
When Fido just exploded and went Phffft… around the room
Chorus:
And it was Fido hid the hand grenade for me
When the tans came round search the house at tea
The Tans said 'cuse me mate was that something your dog ate
`Twas Fido hid the hand grenade for me
The Tans went out in terror Fido saved us one and all
So we looked at him as laid there on the ceiling floor and wall
Another martyr for ould Ireland by Britannia cruelly slain
Some day up there I hope he'll be an Alsatian once again
CODA:
An Alsatian once again an Alsatian once again
And Fido who's now in Millen's will be
An Alsatian once again