Song Lyrics
I DON'T KNOW
(Brush Shiels)
I don't know these Irishmen they call the six of Birmingham
I only know that someone lied in that court when those men were tried
And I don't why justice failed and Irishmen wound up in jail
I only know that someone lied and those six men still wait inside
Sixteen years is a long, long time but I believe that the greatest crime
Was you and me we did not care we thought maybe they deserved to be there
So we all sang about Nelson Mandela, South Africa Apartheid
South America as well as any kind of politics, but said nothing about the Birmingham Six
Now we all admit our shame we didn't fall for the patriot game
We left them there, the years went by, we didn't care if they lived or died
Now we know they are innocent and we wait for those in
Government, to give them back their dignity, and release them unconditionally.
I don't know these Irishmen they call the six of Birmingham
I only know that someone lied in that court when those men were tried
And I don't why justice failed and Irishmen wound up in jail
I only know that someone lied and those six men still wait inside
Sixteen years is a long, long time but I believe that the greatest crime
Was you and me we did not care we thought maybe they deserved to be there
I KNOW MY LOVE
I know my love by his way of walking
And I know my love by his way of talking
And I know my love in a jacket blue
And if my love leaves me what will I do
Chorus:
And still she cried I love him the best
And a troubled mind sure 'twill know no rest
And still she cried bonny boys are few
And if my love leaves me what will I do
There is a dance hall in the Mardyke
And it's there my love he goes every night
And he sits a queer one down on his knees
And don't you know how it vexes me
Chorus
If my love knew I could wash and wring
And if my love knew I could weave and spin
I would weave a coat of the fines kind
But the want money leaves me behind
Chorus
I know my love is a handsome Rover
And I know he'll roam the whole world over
And in dear old Ireland no longer tarry
And an English girl sure he's sure to marry
Chorus
I KNOW WHO IS SICK
I know who is sick I know who is sorry
I know who I'll wed but the lord knows who I'll marry
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo Too-ra-loo-ra-laddy-O
I have stockings of silk shoes of fine green leather
Combs to buckle my hair rings for every finger
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo Too-ra-loo-ra-laddy-O
Feather beds are soft painted rooms are bonny
But I would trade them all for to go with my love Johnny
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo Too-ra-loo-ra-laddy-O
Some say he is dark but I say he is bonny
Fairest of them all is my handsome, winsome Johnny
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo Too-ra-loo-ra-laddy-O
I know who is sick I know who is sorry
I know who I'll wed but the lord knows who I'll marry
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo Too-ra-loo-ra-laddy-O
I USETA LOVER
(Moran/Carton)
I have fallen for another; she can make her own way home
And even if she asked me now, I'd let her go alone
I use to see her up the chapel, when she went to Sunday Mass
She'd go up to receive; I'd kneel down there and watch her pass
The glory of her ass
Chorus:
I use to love her, I use to love her, once, long, long time ago
I use to love her, I use to love her, once, long, long time ago
It's gone, all my lovin' is gone
Do you remember her collecting for concern on Christmas Eve
She was on a forty-eight hour fast, just water and black tea
I walked straight up and made a ostentatious contribution
I winked at her, to tell her, I'd seduce her in the future
When she's feeling looser
Chorus
So now you know the truth of it, she's no longer my obsession
All the thoughts and dreams I had of her would take six months in confession
But I met this young one Thursday night and she's into free expression
And her mission is to rid the world of this in full repression
Then we had a session
Chorus:
I use to love her, I use to love her, once, long, long time ago
I use to love her, I use to love her, once, long, long time ago
It's gone, all my lovin' is gone
Well it's gone, long, long gone
All my lovin' is gone, long, long gone
All my lovin' is gone, long, long gone
All my lovin' is gone, long, long gone
I have fallen for another; she can make her own way home
I WAS TOLD BY ME AUNT
I was told by me aunt I was told by me mother
That going to a wedding would bring on another
But if I thought that faith I'd go without a bidding
For oh from my heart I'd been longing for a wedding
Musha ring do a daddy ring do a day
My sister Annie and she's younger than I am
She had so many sweethearts she's going to deny them
But here's to me self faith I haven't got so many
But oh from me heart I'd be thankful for any
Musha ring do a daddy ring do a day
And my sister Ellen and she's not yet forsaken
At the age of seventeen a bride she was taken
At the age of nineteen she had a son and daughter
But I'm sweet 45 and I never had an offer
Musha ring do a daddy ring do a day
Commence men, compense men, come tinkers or come tailors
Come fiddlers come pipers come sailors come weavers
Come rag men come bag men come foolish come witty
Don't let me die an old maid come marry me for pity
Musha ring do a daddy ring do a day
And now to conclude I give thanks to a neighbor
Who introduced me to a black chimney sweeper
He says that he loves me and swears that he will keep me
And I'll be happy with my black chimney sweeper
Musha ring do a daddy ring do a day
I WILL GO
(Trad, translated from Gaelic and additional words by Roddy MacMillan)
Chorus:
I will go, I will go, when the fighting is over
To the land o' McLeod that I left to be a soldier,
I will go, I will go.
When the King's son came along, he called us a' together,
Saying, "Brave Highland men, will ye fight for my father?"
I will go, I will go
I've a buckle on my belt, a sword in my scabbard,
A red coat on my back and a shilling in my pocket,
I will go, I will go.
When they put us all on board the lasses were singing
But the tears came to their eyes when the bells started ringing
I will go, I will go.
We sailed across the sea we spied the foreign heather,
We knew some would return and some of us would never,
I will go, I will go.
We stayed for seven years to our land we were returning
In the distance we could see the glens were all a burning
I will go, I will go
When we came back to our land, the winter was turning,
Our goods lay in the snow and our houses were burning.
I will go, I will go.
When we saw the redcoat soldiers raping and a killing
Ah there wasn't one of us who could feel like forgiving
I will go, I will go
I WILL LOVE YOU
(Tom Paxton)
Every time I hear a sweet bird singing,
I think of you and I my love, I think of you and I
And when I hear the evening bells a ringing,
I hang my head and cry my love, hang my head and cry
Chorus:
I will love you; l will love you, when we are gone
I will love you; l will love you, when we are gone
Every time I hear your soft voice humming,
My heart jumps in my breast, my love, my heart jumps in my breast
And until I hear your footsteps coming,
My heart can know no rest, my love; my heart can know no rest
Chorus:
I will love you; l will love you, when we are gone
I will love you; l will love you, when we are gone
I will love you; l will love you, when we are gone
I will love you; l will love you, when we are gone
I WILL LOVE YOU TILL I DIE
Now the time has come for you to go so we'll say our last good bye
I will shed my tears a thousand years I will love you till I die
I recall when first I saw your face and the twinkle in your eye
All that's left for me are memories I will love you till I die
Chorus:
Long ago we watched the fire glow lay awake to catch the dawn
Now here am I, I see the embers die it's so cold here now you've gone
If I begged you now I know you'd stay but I never ever lie
As I watch you go I'm sure you know I will love you till I die
Though I ask myself where I went wrong I can't find no reason why
Though we're far apart you took my heart I will love you till I die
Chorus
Now the time has come for you to go so we'll our last good bye
I will shed my tears a thousand years I will love you till I die
I WISH THAT I NEVER HAD WED
Young ladies have pity on me let me and your company mingle
I once was a maiden so free and like you I was happy and single
Me mother advised me to wed until seventeen I had tarried
To the church ask herself and the triads like a day with man to get married
But I wish that I never was wed
For a short time he loved me sincere he used me both kindly and civil
The honeymoon scarcely was o'er till he turned out a fair divil
The bed he took up on his back and off to the pawn shop he carried
I oft times wish I was dead before that I ever got married
I wish that I never was wed
To the landlord he won't pay the rent because he declares he's not able
There's nothing now left in the house but two broken chairs and a table
The bedclothes, the kettle the broom, the washing tub off he has carried
He grunts and he snores and he shouts I wish that I never was married
I wish that I never was wed
When he buys the meat once a month or I am greatly mistaken
Tis only a sheep's head and clock or a bit of sweet liver and bacon
He says bread and butter are dear and time was shockingly harried
All day he drinks whiskey and beer I wish that I never was married
I wish that I never was wed
One night he came home in a rage he busted me new shoes a sunder
The cat he kicked under the bed and the table threw out of the window
The bellows he threw at me head me clothes to the pawn shop he carried
I oft times wish I was dead before that I ever got married
I wish that I never was wed
If I was but single again I'd be happy and joyous and merry
I'd sing and I'd shout and I'd laugh to be held in the kingdom Kerry
So young maidens single remain by a tyrant you'll never be harried
If I was but single again and by jingo I'd never get married
I wish that I never was wed
I WISH THEY'D DO IT NOW
I was born in old Killarney, one day when I was young
I `Spose boys that's the reason that there's blarney on me tongue
That I was a lovely baby, me mother she would vow
Oh, the girls all ran to kiss me then, I wish they'd do it now
Oh, I wish they'd do it now, oh, I wish they'd do it now
Oh, the girls all ran to kiss me then, I wish they'd do it now
Now when I was still a baby, the girls would handle me
They'd clutch me to their bosoms and they'd bounce me on their knees
They would rock me in the cradle and if I make a row
They'd take me in to sleep with them. I wish they'd do it now
Oh, I wish they'd do it now, oh, I wish they'd do it now
They would take me in to sleep with them; I wish they'd do it now
At five years old, a finer lad, I'm sure was never seen
The girls would take me out to play down on the meadow green
They'd make a chain of buttercups to deck my boyish brow
Then they'd roll me in the clover; oh I wish they'd do it now
Oh, I wish they'd do it now, oh, I wish they'd do it now
They would roll me in the clover; oh I wish they'd do it now
Well the girls would take me out to bathe when the weather it was mild
And in the stream we'd splash about like little shrimps awhile
They would throw the water over me and duck me like a cow
Then they'd rub me nice all over, oh, I wish they'd do it now
Oh, I wish they'd do it now, oh, I wish they'd do it now
They would rub me nice all over; oh I wish they'd do it now
Well it's awful lonesome for a lad to lead a single life
I think I'll go to the dance tonight and get meself a wife
Oh, me fortune is twelve sumpin' pigs, likewise one big fat sow
There'll be plenty love and bacon for the girl who'll love me now
For the girl who'll have me now, for the girl who'll have me now
They'll be plenty love and bacon for the girl who'll have me now