If your buddy feels compelled to sing a famous Irish ballad this Saint Patrick’s Day, be a good pal and make sure he or she scraps the following ten numbers off their party pieces.
She Moved Thro’ The Fair
This old Irish melody with words written by turn-of-the-century poet Padraic Colum is, they say, a hauntingly beautiful love song. But what’s it about? Although the young girl in question has died, she comes to her sweetheart in a dream and says, “It will not be long, love, till our wedding day.”
Have a think about this. You’ve seen it somewhere before. It was a movie by Tim Burton called "Corpse Bride." It’s amazing how few people actually pay attention to what they’re hearing. Some people think this song is majestic and otherworldly, we say it’s creepier than a bookcase full of Stephen King novels.
Irish Ways And Irish Laws
This one is favored by the 2AM brigade. It’s a recitation of every major invading horde to have pillaged Ireland from the Vikings down to Cromwell. Listening to it sung, you’ll begin to feel that you’ve lived through all of that history personally. There’s quite a few verses and not much joy in sight.
A Nation Once Again
This song rhyms ‘freemen’ with ‘three men.’ That’s sufficiently criminal to get it mentioned here but there’s more to this dusty old clunker than that. Written in the early to mid-1840’s in Ireland (just before the outbreak of the great famine) this song has actually been inciting riots for hundreds of years. In the Beatles' movie "A Hard Day's Night," Paul’s grandfather begins singing it at the British police officers after they arrest him for peddling autographed pictures of the lads. What does that tell you?
The Fields of Athenry
Low lie the fields of Athenry and low will lie your spirits by the time the singer gets through this buffoonery. It’s the middle of the great famine and Michael has been caught stealing food to feed his starving family. Prison ships and destitution await the young lovers. You'll feel the lonlieness and sorrow they're talking about in your bones before this one ends. Are there any Irish ballads that conclude with a happy ending?
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Molly Malone
What the hell is this song actually about? Who thought – really, who - that the tribulations of a fishmonger would make a really compelling subject for a song? They're not, as Sinead O’Connor discovered to her cost on perhaps the worst record of her entire career, the tuneless debacle called Sean Nos Nua. No matter where’s it sung Molly Malone will always seem to be echoing from someplace far away (in the very distant past) when things were in fact worse for everyone, not better.
The Fenian Record Player
It’s probably not a good idea to sing this one anywhere, ever. Here’s the opening verse:
“Wee Willie John McFadyean was a loyal Orange Prod,
And he thought that Ian Paisley was just one step down from God -
He thought they ate the childer in the backwoods of Ardoyne,
And he knew that history started with the Battle of the Boyne…”
Danny Boy
Yes, yes, old reliable. There’s a school of thought that suggests the lyrics to this song can be discovered in Irish people’s DNA. Don’t you believe it. The lyrics were actually written by – of all things – an Englishman in 1910. Did that burst your bubble?
What do we know about the song Danny Boy? Well, we know that it has the power to bring the wildest party to a total standstill. It can reduce the most stoic Irishman to heaving sobs. It empties saloons, it breaks hearts and it ruins evenings. For the love of God tell your buddy to forgo it this year.
The Homes Of Donegal
This song has a horrendous tempo and the lyrics redefine witless. It’s all about a traveling tramp buttering up the credulous locals with creamy compliments to ensure he has free meals and a bed for the night. Only in Donegal would they still fall for that.
The Mountains of Mourne
They should have spelled it mountains of ‘mourn.’ It would have been more truthful. This is a song about an Irish emigrant in London who’s homesick and who – it must be said – is disgusted by the hordes of loose London women who, apparently, go topless when they go out. He advises his listeners in Ireland not to do the same. Right you are, and lets have a different tune while we at it, eh?
The Flower Of Magherally
Only the Irish can fill a love song with so much impending dread and sorrow that you’ll suspect the happy young couple will soon be gunned down or dispatched before the singer reaches the first chorus. So it is with The Flower Of Magherally, a love song filled with so much menace that you’re teeth will be chattering after the first line.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seanomelb | Mar 17, 2013, 06:10 PM EDT
The writer above is a drop kick not the Murphy's
Searlit | Mar 17, 2013, 01:07 PM EDT
Happy St. Patrick's Day, One & All! Can't watch those videos right now. Going out celebrating!
pilib04 | Mar 17, 2013, 12:56 PM EDT
This is always subjective. Your musical tastes will dictate which songs you like of dislike on St. Patrick's Day (and every day). Many feel that A Nation Once Again should be the national anthem. This reads like it was written by an Englishman. I have heard these comments and descriptions of Irish music over and over ad nauseum from English persons.
Tipperaryson | Mar 17, 2013, 09:26 AM EDT
A nation once again was well done, I agree with the other posts both dropkick murphy and the muppets should not be part of this, drop kick is nothing but loud and disrespectful, the muppets are for kids and this is not a childs venue
celticguy22 | Mar 12, 2013, 02:20 PM EDT
Personally, I enjoy "A Nation Once Again" and "She Moved Through The Fair," especially the version by Charlotte Church. But the way that the Dropkick Murphys wreck "The Fields Of Athenry" is sickening, to say the least! Give me Paddy Reilly's version, or the one by Barleycorn instead. And I can't stand the Muppets version of "Danny Boy." Boy, oh, boy,oh, boy! And one more thing, I love "A Nation Once Again," especially the one by the Wolfe Tones.
Oregon Mike | Mar 11, 2012, 11:28 PM EDT
Every year, the US stations will play their idea of "traditional" irish songs. Give me a break! Listening to the Dubliners, Clancy Bros, etc, just perpetuate the sterotype of Irish music. I'm an old guy, but give me Van Morrison, Chris DeBurgh, Mary Black, Clannad, Nightnoise, and Enya. I would recommend every station play "Ellis Island" by Mary Black, "Island of Hope & Tears" by Nightnoise, and "Long Long Journey" by Enya every St Pat's Day. My late mother always said that those are songs are so sad. And I said, "of course they are Mom, they're Irish"
mandrake | Mar 11, 2012, 03:32 PM EDT
I don't know about the rest of yiz but the muppets and Danny Boy brought tears to my eyes for all the wrong reasons. Sounded like the back room of The Liar Finnegans pub at closing time
sirpeter | Mar 09, 2012, 05:52 PM EST
They are good Irish songs.They are classic Irish tunes aren't they? Maybe Cahir O'Doc will give us a list that he would approve of?.Come on Doc!! Ten good songs of your choice we'll see can you come up with better tunes for St Patrick's Day.
Dubhthach | Mar 09, 2012, 03:09 PM EST
Well, "A Nation Once Again" is out-of-date, anyway. By the Partition Agreement of 1998, Carsonia remains a province of England and, by the EU treaties, all of Ireland is a province under the thumb of the European Hegemonists. Níl aon ghreim coise san Inis Ealga ag Cáit ní Dhuibhir. Níl ar bith i n-aon chor!
RedBranch | Mar 09, 2012, 02:53 PM EST
It appears Cahir would opt for a Quaker meeting on St.Patrick's Day
citizen69 | Mar 09, 2012, 02:13 PM EST
All the usual Plastic Paddy tunes then.
LucyBoggs | Mar 09, 2012, 12:15 PM EST
I think it's a bunch of hogwash. Who are you to tell people what to listen to on any day?
jamieLM | Mar 09, 2012, 10:46 AM EST
Music is in the ear of the beholder. If you like a certain song, enjoy it. Why care whether anyone else likes it or not? Blow off the criticism and enjoy your own personal playlist.
phiggins | Mar 09, 2012, 09:37 AM EST
I love those songs. The only ones I ban on St. Patrick's Day are "The Unicorn" and "Clancy Lowered the Boom". The rest are all on the table. Mind you though, I only go for "The Fields of Athenry" and "Danny Boy" to get the pretenders out of my house very late and so my real friends and I can sit down with a pint and enjoy every thing we have now from the efforts of our ancestors.
irishfrank | Mar 09, 2012, 07:16 AM EST
GET A LIFE O DOHERTY,TO LONG IN USA
IrelandNorth | Mar 09, 2012, 06:17 AM EST
She can move through my fair anyday. Terrible what a very attractive young woman can do to a man of my vintage (55), whose going through the womanopause. An 'auld fellah' like me could make a big eejit of himself with too many poitins (putcheens) on 'im, and a few too many shamrock joints. Sinead O'Connor's version is used to suitable tragic effect in Neil Jordan's film, Michael Collins, to flag-up the assassination of that great latter-day Irish Chieftan. But Sinead in this one makes Leonard Cohen seem positively cheerful by comparison. Steady on the melancholia, Sinead. You're depressing us all. Are you sure she's not a shareholder in the Prozac Corp. Good ol' Wolfe Tones. Should update it with 'Starvation Once Again' as a tribute to the IMF/ECB/EU troika hostile takeover of Ireland. Novel 'Celtic-punksteresque' variation of the old melancholic melody. Actually stopped-off in Athenry (phon. Ath-in-rye)(Ath an Ri/Place of the King?) on my way to Galway from Dublin to see what all th fuss was about. Quaint little place with narrow streets and impressively restored castle, (and recently murdered teacher/barman). What can one say about the good ol' Dubliner's. Absolutely timeless. But less so about Molly with the mammaries bronze statue in Grafton St. Fishmongers didn't wear ball room dress. Unless she was a fishmonger from Foxrock, which seems unlikely. Maybe she was coming home from the Trinity Ball, and was doing a nixer.
pilib04 | Mar 08, 2012, 09:53 PM EST
Nice collection of songs. I think they are all great. In fact, I would refer to them as Greatest Hits. Perfect choice of musicians and singers for these songs. The hit on A Nation Once Again is absurd. This Tom Davis song captures the Spirit of Freedom today just as it did in 1981 and 1845. As for Danny Boy, get over yourselves, ya bunch of haters. The third verse is the best. But should I live, and should you die for Ireland, Let not your dying thoughts be all of me, But breathe a prayer to God for our dear sireland, That He will hear, and He will set her free. And I will take your place and pike, my dearest, And strike a blow, though weak that blow may be. To help the cause to which your heart was nearest, And you will rest in peace until I come for thee.
hollabackgurl | Mar 08, 2012, 08:36 PM EST
I had a lot of fun reading this.
KJSparkz | Mar 08, 2012, 05:16 PM EST
I'd have to question the ability of anybody who could put together such a badly written article as this.They certainly dont know much about the songs or evenbe able to make out the words. lets see if I can put the poor misguided author in the picture..... Hills of Donegal is all about planning permission for Casinos in Donegal back in the 1990s in a very tourism orientated county with high emigration figures. Molly Malone is about a Lady of the Night who also worked as a fish seller. The Fenian Record player is a typical skit and meant to be a bit of nonsense along the lines of Teddybears Head or Rock on Rockall Nationalistic and also a reflection on Irish humour. A Nation once again is hugely popular and tells of how Ireland of the time had no great heroes like the 300 Spartans at Thermopolaye or Horatius at the Bridge over the Tiber of Roman legend. Danny Boy and Irish Ways are fair comment enough. Also its pretty easy to pick out terrible versions of any song to use as an excuse. My advice to author: stick to Arts as you havent a clue about Irish popular culture.
Sparklet | Mar 08, 2012, 05:10 PM EST
You tell him, Mairead. :)
maireadinmelb | Mar 08, 2012, 04:47 PM EST
To the author - Are you irish? Music and stories was the only way to pass down the history of the celtic people after even the irish language was banned! I would rather sing a nation once again or the fields of athenry than listen to plastic irish rubbish like irish eyes are smiling! The point of st patrick's day to those who no longer live in ireland is to recognise and celebrate irish culture not trapple on it as your article may suggest!
tradhead | Mar 08, 2012, 04:25 PM EST
You couldn't post a video of someone actually singing the Mountains of Mourne? Don McLean does a decent version (among others). I have a friend who's from Malin Head who loves the song. He also, for the record, has no problem with "The Hills of Donegal" or "Homes of Donegal" for that matter. For most of these, it's not the songs themselves, it's how they're sung and who sings them (maybe barring Fenian Record Player). Know the audience you're singing to, sing with respect, and sing what you want.
Sparklet | Mar 08, 2012, 03:29 PM EST
When boyhood's fire was in my blood I read of ancient freemen, For Greece and Rome who bravely stood, Three hundred men and three men; It's free men, not freedom, so it does rhyme...though I don't think Rome was involved in that little incident>??
richard cahill | Mar 08, 2012, 03:23 PM EST
Aw! Guys get a life. Comeallye! Late evening Craic. one in 365! Next ye'll want to play hurling indoors without the sliotar!! Good on ye Mick 1000.
Mick10000 | Mar 08, 2012, 02:48 PM EST
Go to you tube and search Danny Boy by Michael Littwin. Screw the critics...have a listen!
righton | Mar 08, 2012, 02:36 PM EST
We Irish-Americans love any and all Irish music merry or sad because our ancestors fled poverty and pain - they were not on "vacation." The songs of the Irish remind me of why I'm an Irish-American. We all inherited that longing for the homeland and if the "real" Irish make fun of it, tsk, tsk. Listen to Danny Boy, it's a good one.
MegK311 | Mar 08, 2012, 02:16 PM EST
I don't care what you think about Danny Boy it was my mother's favorite song. When I hear it I always remember her. She died when I was 12 years old and she was was 42. I also like the Mountians of Mourne sweep down to the sea. I have lots of good memories as a child spending summers in Newcastle.
canadianirish | Mar 08, 2012, 02:05 PM EST
Personally, I quite like Sinead's rendition of 'Irish Ways'...beautiful!
cybersharque | Mar 08, 2012, 02:01 PM EST
Happy.Irish.Ballads? Of course there are a few. The Boys of Kilmichael (which ends with the Black & Tans Dead and Tom's column flying home to save their own lives) comes to mind.
OrenTruitt | Mar 08, 2012, 01:48 PM EST
There must be an Englishman in your family tree; you have no IRISH in your soul. Yes, many of these are OVER done but all have their place. I'm surprised you didn't have 'Four Green Fields' and 'The Minstrel Boy' on your list.
Faith20 | Mar 08, 2012, 01:42 PM EST
What a witless piece; do you actually get paid to write this stuff? Obviously, you're not a fan of Irish independence, but many of us are not fans of British arrogant occupation. To take the opportunity of an Irish holiday to trash those who want freedom from the same tyranny that America fought is a cheap shot.
PeterNY | Mar 08, 2012, 01:35 PM EST
First it was complaining about the Americans and their heritage, now it's complaining about songs.....are you irish ever happy about anything? BTW, The "Homes of Donegal" sung by Paul Brady is perhaps the most beautiful song you will ever hear. Happy St. Patricks Day Anyway!!!
martin | Mar 08, 2012, 01:28 PM EST
Get a copy the homes of Donegal sung by Paul Brady.
padraiginrua | Mar 08, 2012, 01:21 PM EST
In :A Nation Once Again" the rhyme is free men with three men. The Homes of Donegal is not the clip you present. Sloppy work.
littleluvnut | Mar 08, 2012, 12:58 PM EST
The Homes of Donegal is actually a very beautiful song when sung by Celtic Thunder! The version you posted INDEED is not very good and yes I am going to mention your next pick,The Mountains of Mourne from Phil Coulter, again if you listen to the Celtic Thunder version in which Keith Harkin sings it, its a wonderful song to listen to over and over again! People just know most of the versions here do suck but there are versions that are worth listening to over and over again!
joanxis | Mar 08, 2012, 11:34 AM EST
Of course, the Dropkick Murphys version of "Fields" is not melodic at all. Stop screaming!!!
joanxis | Mar 08, 2012, 11:32 AM EST
I love "She Moved Though the Fair" and "The Fields of Athenry". It's the melody I love. Also, I like the story of "Fields". It makes me sad because it was a true likeness of what happened. You can make fun of me for liking these songs, but you can't change the fact that I do - for whatever reason. What a killjoy!!:)
Yerffac | Mar 08, 2012, 11:26 AM EST
Anything but Danny Boy and Molly Malone!
Tedmiller | Mar 08, 2012, 11:26 AM EST
You've just tossed an impressive list of songs on the scrap pile. What songs would you suggest as alternatives.
Yerffac | Mar 08, 2012, 11:25 AM EST
Anything but Danny Boy and M
CitizenWhy | Mar 08, 2012, 11:25 AM EST
Are you proposing happy songs to be written by various Chambers of commerce and Irish political parties? But, yes, there are some happy drinking songs, yet sad ones are needed for variety. For most Irish sadness is a segue into good humor and good spirits. What Irish bars have you been hanging at? Sounds like you need a change of venue.
oTuachair | Mar 08, 2012, 11:13 AM EST
This is a hilarious piece, but I think you're going to spoil a lot of traditions with it... :)
BrianO | Mar 08, 2012, 11:12 AM EST
Can't we be tolerant of these people who like to sing these songs, I mean a nation once again is controversial but shouldn't a person be allowed to sing it, maybe not, Mr O'Doherty has a point, we should only be allowed to speak or sing what is approved by the tolerant left.
Paul O'Brien | Mar 08, 2012, 10:43 AM EST
Spot on, Cahir! I'm always reminded of the great old joke: How many Irish folk singers does it take to change a lightbulb? Fifteen - one to change it and 14 to lament the passing of the old one. If we Irish spent as much time preparing for the future as we do singing about the inequities of the past, we might have foreseen the current economic mess. But as long as we have a Guinness and a grievance, we couldn't be happier!
Celtlaw | Mar 08, 2012, 10:42 AM EST
My family's from the North (Antrim, Down, Tyrone); we will proudly sing our Celtic's Fields of Athenry and have fun singing the Mountains of Mourne. And disrespecting Danny Boy? Well, that certainly goes beyond the beyond.
OleSarge | Mar 08, 2012, 10:34 AM EST
You have no soul. The music is about reconnecting. It's tribal. Irish history is about long suffering, shot periods of joy and the indomitable will to overcome. The fire in the belly must be stroked, the spirit must be allowed to soar. Once in awhile, let go of the intellectual pose and just enjoy for the sake of enjoyment. Happy St Patrick's Day!
ballina5ny | Mar 08, 2012, 10:04 AM EST
What a terrible spin you are putting on these, Cahir. Music and song are a MAJOR part of Irish culture. Sure, some of these are not originally Irish, but they have been adopted by the Irish or those of Irish descent, for better or for worse. Some of your selections I would agree with, mostly because they are overplayed. BTW, you describe one song, the Homes of Donegal, a fine song IMO, but post a video of an entirely different song. You might want to recheck that.
njirish | Mar 08, 2012, 09:12 AM EST
killjoy