https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESokgl3Vldk
The coolest part of the whole thing was that they played an Irish tune!
Browsing Posts tagged irish
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_5nP9VKxbQ
Oh, the green and red of Mayo
I can see it still:
its soft and craggy boglands,
its tall majestic hills,
where the ocean kisses over Ireland
the waves caress its shore.
Oh, the feeling it came over me
to stay forever more…forever more.From its rolling coastal waters,
I can see Croagh Patrick’s peak.
Where one Sunday every summer
the pilgrims climb the reek.
Where Saint Patrick in his solitude
looked down across Clew Bay
and with a ringing of his bell,
called the faithful
there to pray…there to pray.Oh, take me to Clare Island,
the home of Gráinne Mhaol.
Its waters harbor fishes
from the herring to the whale.
And now I must depart it
and reality is plain.
May the time not pass slowly
b’fore I set sail again…set sail againOh, the green and red of Mayo
I can see it still:
its soft and craggy boglands,
its tall majestic hills,
where the ocean kisses over Ireland
the waves caress its shore.
Oh, the feeling it came over me
to stay forever more…forever more.
Stay forever moreOh, the green and red of Mayo…
Oh, the green and red of Mayo…
Oh, the green and red of Mayo…
Oh, the green and red of Mayo…
~The Saw Doctors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Pns4Aq-RNs
Whatever you say, say nothing, when you speak about you-know-what.
For if you know who should hear you, you know what you’ll get.
They’ll take you off to you-know-where for you wouldn’t know how long
So for you-know-who’s sake, don’t let anyone hear you singing this song.You all know what I’m speaking of when I mention you-know-what,
and I fear it’s very dangerous to even mention that.
For the other, it is always there, although you may not see.
But if anyone asks who told you that, please don’t mention meAnd whatever you say, say nothing, when you speak about you-know-what.
For if you know who should hear you, you know what you’ll get.
They’ll take you off to you-know-where for you wouldn’t know how long
So for you-know-who’s sake, don’t let anyone hear you singing this song.And you all know who I’m speaking of when I mention you-know-who.
And you-know-who could hear hear me now, you know what he’d do.
So if you don’t see me again, you’ll know why I’m away,
but if anyone asks you where I’ve gone, here’s what you must say:Whatever you say, say nothing, when you speak about you-know-___.
For if you know who should hear you, you know what you’ll get.
They’ll take you off to you-know-where for you wouldn’t know how ___
So for you-know-who’s sake, don’t let anyone hear you singing this ___.Well, that’s enough about so-and-so, not to mention such-and-such.
I’d better end my song now; I’ve already said too much.
For the less you say and the less you hear, the less you’ll go astray.
And the less you think and the less you do, the more you’ll hear them say:Whatever you say, say nothing, when you speak about you-know-___.
For if you know who should hear you, you know what you’ll ____.
They’ll take you off to you-know-where for you wouldn’t know how ____So for you-know-who’s sake, don’t let anyone hear you singing this song.
~Colum Sands
A young guy put a bit of Dublin under a lens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AJvZQF2seA
This weekend, I was able to ride my bike to the Michigan Irish Music Festival. You can read a bit about my trip to the festival here.
I finished my nap at Muskegon State Park and rode over to the festival, arriving about five o’clock in the afternoon. This allowed me to get into the festival for free! I hadn’t realized along the way, but I had bought a three-day pass that I accidentally left back home. Needless to say, I was not going to bike the one hundred eighty miles back to get it. So, I would have to pay my way AGAIN. Therefore, being able to get in to the festival for free on Friday was a very good thing!
As soon as I got into the festival, I went to check out the Moxie Strings, one of my personal favorite bands. It consists of a duo of an electric cello and a fiddle, with an excellent percussionist accompanying them.
The Moxie Strings are a great band with a cool sound
Here’s a video of one of their current songs, entitled “Airport.” Diana, the fiddler introduced the song and informed the audience that they wrote the song after watching a soldier’s homecoming at an airport. I think it is truly a lovely song.
They are competing in ArtPrize with this song, and I really hope they win it!
This is the song that they closed their set out with (another good one):
After the Moxie Strings started my festival day out right, I saw the Waxies and the Kreelers. Both bands are high-energy Celt-Rock bands. It was a lot of fun to dance and sing along to.
Paul Bruno of the Kreelers plays pretty well
Here’s a little video I took of them:
I snuck into another tent to catch a few songs from the Elders. I have many fond memories of some of their music, and it was a rollicking good time to listen to some of their original celtic pop numbers.
I then checked out Danny Burns, who is one of my favorite singer-songwriters. I’ve always enjoyed his strong vocals and his take on some of his cover songs as well.
Danny Burns is a great singer-songwriter
When his set was almost done, I went to check out FullSet. They were a young band, but every single one of them were extremely tight musicians. They played a lot of traditional tunes, and sang a few songs as well. I was very very impressed with how they kept up a lot of the traditional music, but also made it sound fresh and new at the same time. They were probably my favorite of the new acts I saw all weekend!
Sunset at Heritage Landing while a green flag billows
After their set was finished, I caught a fair amount of Gaelic Storm‘s set. Gaelic Storm is a pretty good band who were made famous from the film “Titanic,” My favorite of the whole band is Jessie Burns. She’s an excellent fiddler, and has a great driving energy and rhythm. I was surprised because she looked quite pregnant, but she was still playing like always. She didn’t dance around the stage as much, but she still played with tons of passion. It was great to see her again.
After that, I went to the Holiday Inn, where the Waxies were closing down the night with a few sets. I had a great time there as well.
We then headed back to the campground to get ready for the next day.
The next day was simply filled with music.
I’m not even sure if I can remember all that I saw! I was practically running from tent to tent in my excitement to catch so many great acts. I did very much enjoy Cathie Ryan‘s set as well. She has great vocals, and a lot of her original songs and tunes harken back to a real sense of tradition. Some of her love songs are personal favorites of mine. It was a wonderful time, especially to hear her sing live! She also brought a couple of her band members, including Patsy O’Brien and Matt Mancusso!
Cathie Ryan
Another band I liked that was new to the Irish fest was RUNA. Like FullSet, they were all very tight musicians, and I was very impressed with their abilities. Their sound was a little more “new” than FullSet’s, but still very good.
This guy played music and played along with it
I also caught a bit of the Tionol (prounounced chin-OLL), where Eamonn de Barra gathered musicians from a lot of the bands and mixed them together to play a few songs.
Here’s Patsy O’Brien (and friends) singing a jazzed up version of “The Star of the County Down”:
After the Tionol, I checked out a little bit of Goitse, another great Irish bang that I was able to catch last year as well. They were excellent as always, though it appeared that James Harvey, the banjo player wasn’t there. Filling in for him was David Curley of Slide. Áine McGeeney was excellent as always with her strong and interesting singing voice, and the rest of the band were superb as well.
I then went and caught a bit more of Danny Burns. This time, Jessie Burns from Gaelic Storm and Sean McCarthy from FullSet joined him for quite a few of his songs.
Here’s their version of Richard Thomson’s “Beeswing,” which is one of my all-time favorite Richard Thomson songs:
After Danny’s set was done, I checked out FullSet again. They were just as good as the day before!
I then went to check out the Barra MacNeils out of Canada. I was really hoping to hear “Dance With Me Daily” and “My Heart’s in the Highlands.” Sadly, that didn’t happen, but they played a set chock full of some great music, so I wasn’t too disappointed. I’ve always enjoyed seeing them live.
I then had dinner while listening to Dave Curley and Mick Broderick of Slide. They had a great set, and those guys are amazing musicians!
After that, I went from tent to tent checking out the Kreelers, Gaelic Storm, and the Elders. All three were playing about the same time, so it was kind of fun going between them all, checking out the different styles of music. Gaelic Storm had the largest draw and there were people overflowing all sides of the tent. They really like to get the crowd into their songs with plenty of audience participation songs. They closed out the fest, and I must say that all in all, it was a great time!
The next day, we hung out for the morning and then headed back for home. My bike and I got a ride back to Ann Arbor with my friends Bryan and Christina.
It really was a wonderful weekend!
There were tons of people at the fest
This is taken from a book by William Carleton of the same name.
“Oh! rise up Willy Reilly and come along with me,
I mean for to go with ye and leave this counterie,
To leave my father’s dwelling-house, his houses and free land;
And away goes Willy Reilly and his dear Cooleen Bawn.They go by hills and mountains, and by yon lonesome plain,
Through shady groves and valleys all dangers to refrain;
but her father followed after with a well-arm’d band,
And taken was poor Reilly and his dear Cooleen Bawn.It’s home then she was taken, and in her closet bound,
Poor Reilly all in Sligo jail lay on the stony ground,
‘Till at the bar of justice before the Judge he’d stand.
For nothing but the stealing of his dear Cooleen Bawn.“Now in the cold, cold iron, my hands and feet are bound,
I’m handcuffed like a murderer, and tied unto the ground,
But all the toil and slavery I’m willing for to stand,
Still hoping to be succored by my dear Colleen Bawn.”The jailor’s son to Reilly goes, and thus to him did say,
“Oh! get up Willy Reilly you must appear this day,
For great Squire Follard’s anger you never can withstand,
I’m afear’d you’ll suffer sorely for your dear Cooleen Bawn.”Now Willy’s drest from top to toe all in a suit of green,
His hair hangs o’er his shoulders most glorious to be seen;
He’s tall and straight, and comely as any could be found,
He’s fit for Follard’s daughter, was she heiress to a crown.This is the news, young Reilly, last night that I did hear,
The lady’s oath will hang you or else will set you clear;”
“If that be so,” says Reilly, “her pleasure I will stand,
still hoping to be succored by my dear Cooleen Bawn.”The Judge he said, “This lady being in her tender youth,
If Reilly has deluded her, she will declare the truth;”
Then, like a moving beauty bright, before him she did stand,
“You’re welcome there my heart’s delight and dear Cooleen Bawn.”“Oh, gentlemen,” Squire Follard said, “with pity look on me,
This villain came amongst us to disgrace our family,
And by his base contrivances this villainy was planned,
If I don’t get satisfaction I’ll quit this Irish land.”The lady with a tear began, and thus replied she,
“The fault is none of Reilly’s, the blame lies all on me,
I forced him for to leave his place and come along with me,
I loved him out of measure which wrought our destiny.”Out bespoke the noble Fox at the table he stood by,
“Oh! gentlemen consider on this extremity,
To hang a man for love is a murder you may see,
So spare the life of Reilly, let him leave this counterie.”“Good, my lord, he stole from her her diamonds and her rings,
gold watch and silver buckles, and many precious things,
which cost me in bright guineas more than five hundred pounds;
I’ll have the life of Reilly should I lose ten thousand pounds.”“Good, my lord, I gave them him as tokens of true love,
And when we are a-parting I will them all remove,
If you have got them, Reilly, pray send them home to me.”
“I will my loving lady with many thanks to thee.”“There is a ring among them I allow yourself to wear,
With thirty locket diamonds well set in silver fair,
And as a true-love token wear it on your right hand,
That you’ll think on my poor broken heart when you’re in foreign lands.”Then out spoke noble Fox, “You may let the prisoner go,
The lady’s oath has cleared him, as the Jury all may know,
She has released her own true love; she has renewed his name.
May her honour bright gain high estate, and her offspring rise to fame.”
~Traditional Ballad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDPeeO7jY4E
My friend Mossy asked me for the lyrics to this song, and that reminded me what a good/sad song it is. I believe it is an original song by the Mickey Finns, and also that it is a true story. Anyway, I thought I would share it with you all.
She was a Catholic. He was a Protestant man.
And they both came from Belfast, divided by tanks and barbed wire.
Brought up in the Troubles on two religious beliefs,
but they both loved each other despite of what they might face.Oh, to be brought up on two different sides of the fence,
Separated by concrete, tanks and freedom fighter men,
Separated by concrete, tanks and freedom fighter men.Every night, they’d meet by the old shoe factory wall.
They walked the canal bank to a place that they called their own.
They talked about marriage and raising their own family.
And for a short while, they held each other tight.Oh, to be brought up on two different sides of the fence,
Separated by concrete, tanks and freedom fighter men,
Separated by concrete, tanks and freedom fighter men.One night, he lay sleeping all alone in his bed.
His door was kicked in by three armed and masked men.
They shot him three times in the head and once in the chest.
His only crime was the lovin’ of a Catholic girl.Oh, to be brought up on two different sides of the fence,
Separated by concrete, tanks and freedom fighter men,
Separated by concrete, tanks and freedom fighter men.
Oh, to be brought up on two different sides of the fence,
Separated by concrete, tanks and freedom fighter men,
Separated by concrete, tanks and freedom fighter men.
~The Mickey Finns
