Maggie
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« on: February 19, 2008, 01:43PM » |
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You have probably heard the songs they sing before. Maybe there are some lyrics you didn't understand, or new songs you never heard. The purpose of this thread is to discuss and understand their music.
I want to start with "Rocky Road to Dublin" which is a fast tune so you may miss some of the lyrics. The tune was written in the 1800's and was played at a Feis Cheoil (music festival) in Belfast in 1898. It has been recorded by numerous Irish groups since the 1950's. You need to know some background....until the last 10 years, most of the young men of Ireland had to go to England to find work. The main industry, almost the only industry in Ireland, was agriculture. So, not having any cars, they would make their way to Dublin or Dun Laoghaire, to catch the ferry. The Irish ferry was Dublin to Liverpool and had draught Guinness on board. The British ferry went from Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead. (I have used both ferries, and of course prefer the Irish one with the Guinness!)
Many of the Irish would find work in construction, others would work in offices.
(An interesting aside: Michael Collins made the same trip to England, and went to work in a Post Office for the British Civil Service...straight into the lion's den...what he learned proved very useful later! While there he quickly found the Irish community, joined the GAA, played Gaelic Football and also joined Sinn Fein)
Anyhow, back to the song. This young man is from Tuam, (pronounced chume, rhymes with broom) in County Galway. It was Summer and a busy time for farmers, so he was able to find work as he made his way along the rocky road to Dublin. "Saluted father dear" does not mean a military-style salute, but probably a handshake and a blessing. The Irish word "bróg" (pronounced brogue) means shoe. "A drop o' the pure" would be poteen, or Irish moonshine. He was carrying all he owned in a bundle, which was stolen off his shillelagh in Dublin. When he asked who stole it, they couldn't understand his Connacht accent.
He almost missed the ferry and had a very uncomfortable ride. When he got off the ferry in Liverpool, the young men there were mocking him and insulting Ireland, so he let fly with the shillelagh and some passing guys from Galway joined him. The Irish won the fight and must have done some damage, because they had to return to Dublin.
Rocky Road to Dublin
From: Songs of Ireland words and music traditional
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 asked 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.
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