The Dubliners

[fox69]

"The Galway Races"

"The Galway Races"


As I rode down to Galway town to seek for recreation
On the seventeenth of August me mind being elevated
There were multitudes assembled with their tickets at the station
Me eyes began to dazzle and I'm goin' to see the races.

[Chorus:]
With your whack-fa-the-da-for-the-diddle-ee-iddle-day.

There were passengers from Limerick and passengers from Nenagh
And passengers from Dublin and sportsmen from Tipperary
There were passengers from Kerry, and all quarters of our nation
And our member, Mr. Hearst, for to join the Galway Blazers.

There were multitudes from Aran, and members from New Quay Shore
Boys from Connemara and the Claire unmarried maidens
There were people from Cork city who were loyal, true and faithful;
Who brought home the Fenian prisoners from diverse foreign nations.

It's there you'll see confectioners with sugarsticks and dainties
The lozenges and oranges, the lemonade and raisins!
The gingerbread and spices to accomodate the ladies
And a big crubeen for thruppence to be pickin' while you're able.

It's there you'll see the gamblers, the thimbles and the garters
And the spotting Wheel of Fortune with the four and twenty quarters
There was others without scruple pelting wattles at poor Maggy
And her father well-contented and he lookin' at his daughter.

It's there you'll see the pipers and the fiddlers competing
The nimble footed dancers a-tripping over the daisies
There were others crying cigars and lights and bills for all the races
With the colors of the jockeys and the prize and horses' ages.

It's there you'll see the jockeys and they're mounted out so stately
The pink, the blue, the orange, and green, the emblem of our nation
When the bell was rung for starting, all the horses seemed impatient
I thought they never stood on ground their speed was so amazing.

There was half a million people there from all denominations
The Catholic, the Protestant, the Jew, and Presbyterian
There was yet no animosity, no matter what persuasion
But "failte" and hospitality inducin' fresh acquaintance.

 

[fox69]

"The Gartan Mother's Lullaby"

"The Gartan Mother's Lullaby"



Sleep oh babe for the red bee hums
The silent twilights fall
Aoibheal from the grey rock comes
To wrap the world in thrall
A lyan van o my child my joy
My love and heart's desire
The crickets sing you lullabys

Dusk is drawn and the green man's thorn
Is wreathed in rings of fog
Sheevra sails his boat till morn
Upon the starry bog
A lyan van o the paley moon
Has ringed her cusp in dew
And weeps to hear the sad sweet song
I sing my love to you

 

[fox69]

"The Glendalough Saint"

"The Glendalough Saint"



In Glendalough lived an old saint
Renowned for learning and piety
His manners was curious and quaint
And he looked upon girl with disparity
Fol di dol fol di fol day
Fol di dol rol di dol ad dy
Fol di dol rol di dol day
Fol di dol rol di dol ad dy
He was fond of readin' a book
When he could get one to his wishes
He was fond of castin' his hook
In among the ould fishes
Fol di dol fol di fol day
Fol di dol rol di dol ad dy
Fol di dol rol di dol day
Fol di dol rol di dol ad dy
But one evenin' he landed a trout
He landed a fine big trout, Sir
When young Kathleen from over the way
Came to see what the ould monk was about, Sir
Fol di dol fol di fol day
Fol di dol rol di dol ad dy
Fol di dol rol di dol day
Fol di dol rol di dol ad dy

For I am a man of great piety
And me good manners I wouldn't taint
Not be mixing with female society
Fol di dol fol di fol day
Fol di dol rol di dol ad dy
Fol di dol rol di dol day
Fol di dol rol di dol ad dy
Oh but Kitty she wouldn't give in
And when he got home to his rockery
He found she was seated therein
A-polishin' up his ould crockery
Fol di dol fol di fol day
Fol di dol rol di dol ad dy
Fol di dol rol di dol day
Fol di dol rol di dol ad dy
Well he gave the poor creature a shake
And I wish that the Garda had caught him!
For he threw her right into the lake
And, be Jaysus, she sank to the bottom
Fol di dol fol di fol day
Fol di dol rol di dol ad dy
Fol di dol rol di dol day

 

[fox69]

"The Holy Ground"

"The Holy Ground"



Fine girl you are

Adieu to you my Dinah, a thousand times adieu
We're going away from the holy ground and the girls that we love true
We will sail the South sea over and then return for sure
To see again the girls we love and the holy ground once more

Fine girl you are the girl I do adore
And still I live in hopes to see
The holy ground once more, fine girl you are

See the storm a-rising, I see it coming soon
And the sky, it is so cloudy you can scarcely see the moon
And the good old ship, she was tossing about, the riggin' was all tore
And still I live with hopes to see the holy ground once more

Fine girl you are, you're the girl I do adore
And still I live in hopes to see
The holy ground once more, fine girl you are

And now the storm it is over and we are safe on shore
We will drink a toast to the holy ground and the girls that we adore
We will drink strong ale and porter and make the rafters roar
And when our money is all spent we'll go to sea for more

Fine girl you are the girl I do adore
And still I live in hopes to see
The holy ground once more, fine girl you are

 

[fox69]

"The Inniskillen Dragoons"

"The Inniskillen Dragoons"



Fare thee well Enniskillen, fare thee well for a while
And all around the borders of Erin's green isle
And when the war is over we'll return in full bloom
And we'll all welcome home the Enniskillen Dragoons

A beautiful damsel of fame and renown
A gentleman's daughter from Monaghan town
As she drove by the barracks this beautiful maid
Stood up in her coach to see Dragoons on parade

Fare thee well Enniskillen, fare thee well for a while
And all around the borders of Erin's green isle
And when the war is over we'll return in full bloom
And we'll all welcome home the Enniskillen Dragoons

They were all dressed out like gentlemen's sons
Their fine shining sabres and their carbine guns
Their silver mounted pistols, she observed them full
Soon
Because she loved an Enniskillen Dragoon
Fare thee well Enniskillen, fare thee well for a while
And all around the borders of Erin's green isle
And when the war is over we'll return in full bloom
And we'll all welcome home the Enniskillen Dragoons

Flora dear Flora your pardon I crave
It's now and forever that I'll be your slave
Your parents have insulted both morn, night and noon
Because you would wed an Enniskillen Dragoon

Fare thee well Enniskillen, fare thee well for a while
And all around the borders of Erin's green isle
And when the war is over we'll return in full bloom
And we'll all welcome home the Enniskillen Dragoons

Willie dearest Willie don't heed what they say
For children their parents are bound to obey
But when the war is over they'll all change their tune
And you'll roll me in your arms by the light of the Moon

Fare thee well Enniskillen, fare thee well for a while
And all around the borders of Erin's green isle
And when the war is over we'll return in full bloom
And we'll all welcome home the Enniskillen Dragoons

 

[fox69]

"The Irish Navy"

"The Irish Navy"




The Clнona, the Meabh and the Mucha
The pride of the Irish navy
When the Captain he blows on his whistle
All the sailors go home for their tea

While the army is off in the Kongo
In Cyprus or some foreign parts
Our navy is strained to the limits
Deploying it's nautical acts
One day from the Russian invader
Defending our very odd fish
We found it was just the red herring
From the signals we got from the cis'

The Clнona, the Meabh and the Mucha
The pride of the Irish navy
When the Captain he blows on his whistle
All the sailors go home for their tea

Each year they go on manoeuvres
To prepare for defence they are keen
Sometimes it's the Lakes of Killarney
More often the pond in the Green
The canal it could be of assistance
In defending our own holy ground
But due to proposed legislation
We'll have to sail all the way round

The Clнona, the Meabh and the Mucha
The pride of the Irish navy
When the Captain he blows on his whistle
All the sailors go home for their tea

We are a seafaring nation
Defence of our land is a right
We'd fight like the devil all morning
Provided we're home by the night

The Clнona, the Meabh and the Mucha
The pride of the Irish navy
When the Captain he blows on his whistle
All the sailors go home for their tea

 

[fox69]

"The Jail Of Cluian Meala"

"The Jail Of Cluian Meala"



How hard is my fortune, how vain my repining.
The strong rope of fate for my young neck is twining.
My strength is departed, my cheeks sunk and sallow
While I languish in chains in the jail of Cluan Meala.

No boy in the village was ever yet milder.
I could play with a child and my sport be no wilder.
I could dance without tiring from morning till evening
And my goalball I'd strike to the lightning of heaven.

At my bed foot decaying my hurley is lying.
Through the lads of the village my goalball is flying.
My horse 'mong the neighbours neglected may fallow.
While this heart young and gay lies cold in Cluan Meala.

Next Sunday the pattern at home will be keeping.
All the lads of the village the fields will be sweeping.
And the dance of fair maidens the evening will hallow.
While this heart young and gay lies cold in Cluan Meala.

 

[fox69]

"The Kerry Recruit"

"The Kerry Recruit"



The lights are out in the city tonight
So close your eyes, gaze up at the heavens
And see if you can point me out
If I could have one wish tonight
I'd wish upon a satellite
To bring me back to you
Bring me back to you
We spend our whole lives searching for
All the things we think we want
And never really knowing what we have
So many paths that we can take
To bring us to our destiny
Gaze up at the heavens
And see if you can point me out
If I could have one wish tonight
I'd wish upon a satellite
To bring me back to you
Bring me back to you, oh
We spend our whole lives searching for
All the things we think we want
Never really knowing what we have
Be careful what you wish for
These stars are fading out
Be careful what you wish for
These stars are fading
If I could have one wish tonight
I'd wish upon a satellite
To bring me back to you
Bring me back to you
We spend our whole lives searching for
All the things we think we want
And never really knowing what we have
If I could have one wish tonight
I'd wish upon a satellite
To bring me back to you
Bring me back to you
We spend our whole lives searching for
All the things we think we want
And never really knowing what we have
What we have, what we have

 

[fox69]

"The Lag Song"

"The Lag Song"



When I was a young lad sometimes I'd wonder
What happened to time when it passed
Then one day I found out that time just lands in prison
And there it is held fast

When I was a young man I used to go courting
And dream of the moon and the stars
The moon is still shining the dreams they are all broken
On these hard iron bars

Look out of the window over the roofs there
And over the walls see the sky
Just one flying leap and you could make your getaway
If only you could fly

The prison is sleeping the night watch is keeping
Its watch over seven hundred men
And behind every cell door a sleeping lag is dreaming
Oh to be free again

Go write me a letter addressed to my number
But say you remember my name
So I'll be reminded of how the world outside goes
And feel a man again

Got time on my hands I've got time on my shoulder
Got plenty of time on my mind
There's no summer or winter when once you land inside here
Just that old prison grind

 

[fox69]

"The Lark In The Morning"

"The Lark In The Morning"



The lark in the morning, she rises off her nest
She goes home in the evening with the dew all on her breast
And like the jolly ploughboy she whistles and she sings
She goes home in the evening with the dew all on her wings
Oh, Roger the ploughboy, he is a dashing blade
He goes whistling and singing over yonder green blade
He met with pretty Susan, she's handsome I declare
She is far more enticing then the birds all in the air
The lark in the morning, she rises off her nest
She goes home in the evening with the dew all on her breast
And like the jolly ploughboy she whistles and she sings
She goes home in the evening with the dew all on her wings
One evening coming home from the rakes of the town
The meadow's been all green and the grass had been cut down
If I should chance to tumble all in the new mown hay
"Oh, it's kiss me now or never love", this bonnie lass did say
The lark in the morning, she rises off her nest
She goes home in the evening with the dew all on her breast
And like the jolly ploughboy she whistles and she sings
She goes home in the evening with the dew all on her wings
When twenty long weeks they were over and were past
Her mommy chanced to notice how she thickened 'round the waist
It was the handsome ploughboy, the maiden she did say
For he caused me for to tumble all in the new mown hay
The lark in the morning, she rises off her nest
She goes home in the evening with the dew all on her breast
And like the jolly ploughboy she whistles and she sings
She goes home in the evening with the dew all on her wings
Here's a health to y'all ploughboys wherever you may be
That likes to have a bonnie lass a sitting on his knee
With a jug of good strong porter you'll whistle and you'll sing
For a ploughboy is as happy as a prince or a king
The lark in the morning, she rises off her nest
She goes home in the evening with the dew all on her breast
And like the jolly ploughboy she whistles and she sings
She goes home in the evening with the dew all on her wings