THE TOWN I LOVED SO WELL
(Phil Coulter)
In my memory I will always see, the town that I have loved so well
Where our school played ball, by the gas yard wall,
And we laughed through smoked 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 loved so well
In the early morning, the shirt factory horn,
Called the women from Cregagh, the Moor and the Bog
While the men on the dole played a mother's role
Fed the children and then trained the dog
And when times got tough, there was just about enough
But we 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 we could all understand
I remember the day I earned my first pay,
When I played in a small pick up band
There I spent my youth and to tell you truth
I was sad to leave it all behind me
For I learned about life and I found a wife
In the town I loved so well
But when I returned, how my eyes were burned
To see how a town could be brought to its knees
By the armored cars and the bombed out bars
And the gas that hangs on to every breeze
Now an army's installed by old gas yard wall
And the damned barbed wire gets higher and higher
With their tanks and guns, oh, my God what have they done
To the town I loved so well
Now the music's gone, but they still carry on
Their spirit's been bruised, never broken
They will not forget, but their hearts are set
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
For the town I loved so well
THE TOWN OF BALLYBAY
(Tommy Makem)
In the town of Ballybay there was a lassie dwelling
I knew her very well and her story's worth a tellin'
Her father kept a still and he was a good distiller
But when she took to the drink well the divil wouldn't fill
Chorus:
With me ring a ding a da me ring a ding a daddi o
Me ring a ding a da whack for the daddi o
She had a wooden leg it was hollow down the middle
She used to tie a string to it and play it like a fiddle
She'd fiddle in the hall she fiddle in the alley way
She didn't give a damn she had to fiddle anyway
Chorus
She said she couldn't dance unless she had her Wellie on
And when she had it on she could dance as well as anyone
She wouldn't go to bed unless she had her shimmy on
But when she had it on she would go as quick as anyone
Chorus
She had childer up the stairs she had childer in the brier
And another ten or twelve sittin' roarin' be the fire
She fed them on potatoes and on soup she made with nettles
And on lumps of hairy bacon that she'd boil up in the kettle
Chorus
She led a sheltered life eating porridge and black pudding
And she terrorized her man until he died right sudden
And when the husband died she was feeling very sorry
She rolled him a bag and she threw him in the quarry
Chorus
Chorus
TRIP TO JERUSALEM
(Joe Dolan)
I'm a stranger here from Ireland's shore; I've been on the road six months or more
Hikin', workin', travel in style; I'm a vagabond from Erin's Isle
My sunburned thumb stuck up in the air, many's the lift from here to there
Cars, buses, vans and trains, in the punishing heat, the snow and the rain
Chorus:
Whack fol the diddle fol the diro day
Whack fol the diddle fol the daro
Mrs. Dolan, your son he isn't workin'
I came from Dublin to Jerusalem town, had a drink or two on the journey down
At a railway station called Gare du Nord, I missed my train through garglin' hard
Three days later in Napoli, on a Turkish boat I sailed the sea
Slept in a hot hole down below, travelin' tourist class, you know
Chorus
When the Promised Land came into sight, the customs man gave me a fright
"How much money have you got with you, Joe?" I bluffed and said, "Fifty pounds or so.”
He said, "Shalom," I said, "Good day.” Grabbed me guitar, got fast away
Down to the dessert then I went, digging up history and livin' in a tent
Chorus
It was in the Gulf of Aqaba, I met some Paddies and we had a fleadh
Danced through streets of Eilat Town, sang Sean South of Garryowen
I was travelin', I don't know, you pack your gear, get up and go
Leave the crack for another bout, could damn well do with a pint of stout
Chorus
TRIPPIN' DOWN TO TIPP
(Moran/Carton)
Oh, we've all come down to Turles armed with tent poles and guitars
To have the crack and ceili 'neath the sparkling summer stars
We're up from Cork and Kerry and we're down from Donegal
From every end of Ireland for the bayla, one and all
Chorus:
From every end of Ireland we're here let it rip
To go kissin', drinkin', smokin', dancin', trippin' down to Tipp
There's Paddy's, Ileane's, Bridie's, Margel's, Finbar's, Sean's and Tim's
O'Kelly's, Cooney's, Mooney's, Murphy's, Moran's and McGinn's
And if you close your eyes and listen you can hear the legends sing
The ghosts of Luke and Ciaran, the Irish ballad kings
Chorus
We'll cheer your man Costello, cause he's such a decent bloke
We'll laugh with old Van Morrison when he tells a solid joke
We'll waltz with Nancy Griffith and pogo with the Pogues
So let's break out with the wonder stuff and let's all take off our clothes
Chorus
And when all the music's over and all the bands are gone
Silence comes a creepin' o'er the Tipperary dawn
I'll make this solemn promise and I'll whisper it to you
I'll be at the next Trip to Tipp and I hope you'll be there too
Chorus
Chorus
THE TROOPER AND THE MAID
A trooper lad cam' here last nicht, Wi' ridin' he was weary.
A trooper lad cam' here last nicht, Fan the moon shone bricht an' clearly.
“Bonnie lassie, I'll lienear ye noo, Bonnie lassie, I'll lie near ye,
An' I'll far a' your ribbons reel, Or the mornin' ere I leave ye.”
She's ta'en his heich horse by the heid, An' she's led him to the stable,
She's gien him corn an' hay till ate, As muckle as he was able.
She's ta'en the trooper by the han', An' she's led him to her chamber,
Shes gi'en him breid an' wine to drink, An' the wine it was like amber.
She's made her bed baith lang an' wide, An' she's made it like a lady,
She's ta'en he wed coatie ower her heid, Says, “Trooper, are ye ready?”
He's ta'en aff his big top coat, Likewise his hat an' feather,
An' he's ta'en his broadsword fae his side, An' noo he's doon aside her.
They hadna' been but an oor in bed, An oor an' half a quarter,
Fan the drums cam' beatin' up the toon, An' ilka beat was faster.
It's “Up, up, up” an' oor curnel cries, It's “Up, up, up, an' away,”
It's “Up, up, up” an' oor curnel cries, “For the morn's oor battle day.”
She's ta'en her wee cloakie ower her heid, An' she's followed him doon to Stirlin'
She's grown sae fu' an' she couldna boo, An' they left her in Dunferniline.
“Bonnie lassie, I maun leave ye noo, Bonnie lassie, I maun leave ye,
An' oh, but it does grieve me sair, That ever I lay sae near ye.”
It's “Fan'll ye come back again, My ain dear trooper laddie,
Fan'll ye come back again, An' be your bairn's daddy?”
“O haud your tongue, by bonnie lass, Ne'er let this partin' grieve ye,
When heather cowes grow ousen bows, Bonnie lassie, I'll come an' see ye.
” Cheese an' breid for carles an' dames,
Corn an' hay for horses, Cups o' tea for auld maids,
An' bonnie lads for lasses.
TRUE LOVE KNOWS NO REASON
Billy Gray rode into Gantry way back in '83
Where he first met with young Sarah MacLaine
The wild rose of morning the pale flower of dawning
Heralded springtime in Billy's life that day
Sarah she could not see the daylight of reality
In her young eyes Billy bore not a flaw
No not her chosen one he was a hired gun
Wanted in Kansas City by the law
Then one day a tall man came riding from the badlands
That lie to north of New Mexico
He was over heard to say he was looking for Billy Gray
A wanted man and a dangerous outlaw
Well the news it came creeping to Billy fast sleeping
There in the Clarendon Bar and Hotel
He ran to the old church that lies on the outskirts
Thinking he'd hide in the old steeple bell
But a rifle ball came flying face down he lay during
There in the dust of the road where he lay
Sarah ran to him she was cursing the lawman
Poor girl knew no reason except that he'd been killed
Sarah still lives in that old white framed house
Where she first met Billy some forty years ago
But the wild rose of morning has faded with the dawning
With each day of sorrow too long years have grown
And written on the stone where the dusty winds have long blown
Eighteen words to a passing world say
True knows no season no rhyme nor no reason
Justice is cold as the range in County Clare
True knows no season no rhyme nor no reason
Justice is cold as the range in County Clare
TUAM BEAT
(P. Stevens)
Once upon a golden age singing songs was all the rage
Songs of glory, songs of fun, sad songs in an older tongue
Upon my solemn oath there'd be forty verses, note for note
Here's a song that could set us free from all that oul' history
Chorus:
It's got the Tuam beat it goes sugar, sugar
And the heart speaks how your mother
And the Tuam beat it goes sugar shammin'
And the heart speaks how your mammy
Singing a song, singing a song sing the same oul' song
Stall on sham, sure you're only spoofin,
Huffin' and puffin' trying to blow the roof in
I got a 'lectric guitar picks up and tremolo arm
Chorus
A working, working, working man
Gates for Paddy's tailteann plan
The boys and girls twist and shout
Have some fun and dance about
Chorus
Quarter past eleven, off you go
Down the palace not too slow
Heaven' all across the sky
Oh God I must reply
Chorus
Tinkers minks the pavee sham
Fair play for the traveling man
His wheel broke, he settled down
He brings beauty to the town
Chorus
TWA CORBIES
As I was walking all alane I heard twa corbies makin' mane
And one ontae the other did say where will we gang and dine the day
Where will we gang and dine the day
In ahind yon oul fail dyke I wot there lies a new slain knight
Naebody kens that he lies there but his hawk and hound and his lady fair
His hawk and hound and his lady fair
His hawk is tae the hunting gane his hound to bring a wild fowl hane
His wife has taken another mate so we can make our dinner sweet
We can make our dinner sweet
And you can sit on his white breast bone and I'll pick out his bonny blue e'en
And with a lock of his yellow hair we'll theek our nest when it grows bare *
We'll theek our nest when it grows bare
And many's a one for him makes mane naebody kens where he has gane
Through his white bones when they grow bare the wind shall blow forever mare
The wind shall blow forever mare
TWA RECRUTTIN' SAIRGEANTS
There was twa recruitin” sairgeants cam' frae the black watch
To markets and fairs some recruits for to catch
An a' that they listed was forty an' twa
So list my bonnie laddie an' come awa
Chorus:
It is over the mountains and over the main
Through Gibraltar to France and Spain
Get a feather tae your bonnet and a kilt a been your knee
An' list my bonnie laddie and come awa' wi' me
Oh, laddie, ye dinna ken the danger that ye're in
If your horses wis to gleg an' your ousen wis to rin
This greedy auld fairmer winna pey your fee
So list bonnie laddie an' come awa wi' me
Chorus
It is intae the barn an' oot o' the byrne
This auld fairmer thinks ye'll never tire
For it's a slavery job of low degree
So list bonnie laddie an' come awa wi' me
Chorus
Wi' your tatty poorin's an' your meal an' kail
Your soor sowen sooring an' your ill-brewed ale
Wi' your buttermilk and whey an' bried fired raw
So list bonnie laddie n' come awa
Chorus
Oh, laddie if ye've got a sweetheart an' bairn
Ye'll easily get rid o' that ill-spun yarn
Twa rattles o' the drum an' that'll pey it a'
So list bonnie laddie an' come awa
Chorus
Chorus
TWENTY MEN FROM DUBLIN TOWN
(Arthur Griffith)
Twenty men from Dublin town riding on the mountainside
Fearless of the Saxon frown, twenty brothers true and tried
Blood flows in the city streets; there the green is lying low
Here the Emerald standard greets eyes alike of friend and foe
Chorus:
Fly the city, brothers tried, join us on the mountainside
Where we've England's power defied twenty men from Dublin town
Twenty men from Dublin town, full of love and full of hate
Ah! Our chief, our Tone is down, hand of God avenge his fate
Joy it is when e'er we meet redcoats on the mountain track
Oh! as deer they must be fleet, if to Dublin they get back
Chorus:
Fly the city, brothers tried, join us on the mountainside
Where we've England's power defied twenty men from Dublin town
Twenty men from Dublin town, every night around the fire
Brimming glasses we toss down to our captain Michael Dwyer
Slainte, Michael, barve and true, then there rings the wild hurrah
As we drink, dear land, to you, Eire! Slainte Geal go Brach
Chorus:
Fly the city, brothers tried, join us on the mountainside
Where we've England's power defied twenty men from Dublin town
UNCLE NOBBY'S STEAMBOAT
Come for a trip on Uncle Nobby's steamboat
Where you can hide your worries on a high float
And we'll take a trip to Leprechauns and shamrocks
And hide your minds and troubles for a while
Chorus:
And we are goin' where the grass is growing green
To a mystic land that no one else has seen
Where oblivion takes the mind's reality
And reality fades into a memory
Captain Bluebeard gives a smile at the gangway side to meet you
The First mate by his side with a work card if he needs you
They takes you to your berth your cabin's cool and cosy
Full steams ahead we're ready for to go
Chorus
Brig on the dancing girls the show is now in motion
The choo-choo train is gone it's halfway through the mountains
The Fairies and the witch the banshees drinking brandy
Uncle Nobby at last is in command
Chorus
We're off to Tir na n'Og the goddess of love is Grainne
Cuchulainn can't get it in his coat he has no Fainne
The Leprechauns go by in a twinkling mystic vision
The shamrock lies a-mourning in the grave
Chorus
THE UNQUIET GRAVE
Cold blows the wind to my true love,
And gently drops the rain.
I've never had but one true love,
And in green-wood he lies slain.
I'll do as much for my true love,
As any young girl may,
I'll sit and mourn all on his grave,
For twelve months and a day.
And when twelve months and a day was passed,
The ghost did rise and speak,
"Why sittest thou all on my grave
And will no let me sleep?"
"Go fetch me water from the desert,
And blood from out the stone,
Go fetch me milk from a fair maid's breast
That young man never has known.”
"My breast is cold as clay,
My breath is earthly strong,
And if you kiss my cold clay lips,
You days they won't be long.”
"How oft on yonder grave, sweetheart,
Where we were want to walk,
The fairest flower that e'er I saw
Has withered to a stalk.”
"When will we meet again, sweetheart,
When will we meet again?"
"When the autumn leaves that fall from the trees
Are green and spring up again
UP AMONG THE HEATHER
Up among the heather on the hill a' Benafee
It was there I had a bonny wee lass sitting on my knee
A bumblebee stung me well above the knee
We rested down together on the hill a' Benafee
Said I me bonny wee lassie are ya going to spend the day
Up amongst the heather on the hill a' Benafee
Where all the lads and lassies they're having a sobree
Up among the heather on the hill a' Benafee
Up among the heather on the hill a' Benafee
It was there I had a bonny wee lass sitting on my knee
A bumblebee stung me well above the knee
We rested down together on the hill a' Benafee
Said I me bonny wee lassie please take my advice
Don't ever let a soldier laddie love you more than twice
For all the time you do, he's a fixing how to plan
How to get a wee-be rattle at your old tin can
Up among the heather on the hill a' Benafee
It was there I had a bonny wee lass sitting on my knee
A bumblebee stung me well above the knee
We rested down together on the hill a' Benafee