The Dubliners

[fox69]

"The Town I Loved So Well"

"The Town I Loved So Well"



In my memory I will always see
the town that I have loved so well
where our school played ball by the gasyard wall
and we laughed through the smoke 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 have loved so well.

In the early morning the shirt-factory horn
called women from Craigeen the Moor and the Bog
while the man on the dole played the mother's role
fed the children and then trained the dogs.
And when times got rough there was just about enough
but they 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 that we could all understand
I remember the day when I earned my first pay
as I played in the small pick-up band.
There I spent my youth and to tell you the truth
I was sad to leave it all behind me
for I'd learned 'bout life and I've found a wife
in the town I loved so well.

But when I returned how my eyes have burned
to see how a town could be brought to its knees
by the armoured cars and the bombed-out bars
and the gas that hangs on to every breeze.
Now the army's installed by that old gasyard wall
and the damned barbed wire gets higher and higher
with their tanks and their guns, oh my god what have they done
to the town I loved so well.

Now the music's gone but I still carry on
for their spirit's been bruised never broken
they will not forget for their hearts are aset
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
in the town I loved so well.

 

[fox69]

"The Travelling People"

"The Travelling People"



I'm a freeborn man of the travelling people
got no fixed abode with nomads I am numbered
country lanes and bye ways were always my ways
I never fancied being lumbered

Well we knew the woods and all the resting places
the small birds sang when winter time was over
then we'd pack our load and be on the road
they were good old times for the rover

In the open ground where a man could linger
stay a week or two for time was not your master
then away you'd jog with your horse and dog
nice and easy no need to go faster

And sometimes you'd meet up with other travellers
hear the news or else swop family information
at the country fairs we'd be meeting there
all the people of the travelling nation

I've made willow creels and the heather besoms
And I've even done some begging and some hawkin'
and I've lain there spent rapped up in my tent
and I've listened to the old folks talking

All you freeborn men of the travelling people
every tinker rolling stone and gypsy rover
winds of change are blowing old ways are going
your travelling days will soon be over

 

[fox69]

"The Twang Man"

"The Twang Man"



Come listen to my story, it's about a nice young man
When the militia wasn't a wantin', he dealt in hawkin' twang
He loved a lovely maiden as fair as any midge
And she kept a traycle depot one side of the Carlisle bridge

Well, another one came a courtin' her and his name was Mickey Baggs
He was a commercial traveller and he dealt in bones and rags
Well, he took her out to Sandymount for to see the waters roll
And he stole the heart of the Twangman's girl playin' 'Billy In The Bowl'

Oh, when the twang man heard of this he flew into a terrible rage
And he swore be the content of his twang cart, on him he'd have revenge
So he stood in wait near James' gate till the poor old Baggs came up
And with his twang knife, sure he took the life of the poor old gather `em up

And it's now ye have heard me story and I hope ye'll be good men
And not go chasing the Twangman's mot or any other oul' hen
For she'll leave you without a brass farthing, not even your old sack of rags
And that's the end of the story of poor old Mickey the Baggs

 

[fox69]

"The Unquiet Grave"

"The Unquiet Grave"



The Wind doth blow today my love,
A few small drops the rain.
Never have I had but one true love,
In cold clay she is lain.

I'll do as much for my true love,
As any young man may.
I'll sit and mourn all on her grave,
A twelve month and a day.

The twelve month and a day been gone,
A voice spoke from the deep.
Who is it sits all on my grave.
And will not let me sleep?

Tis I Tis I thine own true love,
Who site upon your grave,
For I crave one kiss from your sweet lips,
And that is all i seek.

You crave one kiss from my clay cold lips,
But my breath is earthy strong.
Had you one kiss from my clay cold lips,
You're time would not be long.

My time be long, my time be short,
Tomorrow or today,
May God in heaven have all my soul
But I'll kiss you lips of clay.

See down in yonder garden green.
Love where we used to walk.
The sweetest flower that ever grew.
Is withered to the stalk.

The stalk is withered dry sweetheart,
So will our hearts decay.
So make yourself content, my love,
'Til death calls you away.

 

[fox69]

"The Waterford Boys"

"The Waterford Boys"



For Fun and Diversion we have met together,
I tell you from Waterford hither we came,
We crossed the Big Ocean in dark stormy weather,
Our pockets were light and our Hearts were the same,
Sad at leaving Old Ireland we're once more on dry land,
By the roadside a tavern I chanced for to spy,
And as I was melting my pockets I felt in,
For the price of a drink I was mortally dry.
For we are the boys of such Fun and such Eloquence,
Drinking and Dancing and all other Joys,
For Ructions Destructions Diversions an Devilment,
Who's to compare with The Waterford Boys.
In the tavern I rolled in the landlord he strolled,
And good morrow says he and says I if you please,
Will you give me a bed and then bring me some bread,
And a bottle of porter and a small piece of cheese,
My bread and cheese ended I then condescended,
To take my repose sure I bade them good-night,
When under the clothes I was trying to doze,
First I stuck in my toes and then popped out the light.
Well I wasn't long sleeping when I heard something creeping,
And gnawing and chawing around the bed post,
My breath I suspended but the noise never ended,
Thinks I you have damnable claws for a ghost,
Now to make myself easy for I felt rather lazy,
Well over my head I again pulled the clothes,
When "Moses what's that, sure a great big jack-rat,
With one leap from the floor jumped right up to my nose."
Well I reached for a hobnail and made him a bobtail,
And wrestled with rats to the clear light of day.
When the landlord came in and he said with a grin,
For your supper and bed you've five shillings to pay,
"Five shillings for what, now don't be disgracing yourself,
Says I to the rogue if you please,
When I can't sleep with these rats you've the devil's own face on you,
To charge me five shillings for dry bread and cheese. "
Oh the landlord went raring and lifting and tearing,
He jumped through the window and he kicked in the door,
When he could go no further he roared, "meela murder.
These rats they are eating me up by the store,
Sure they sleep in my stable they eat from my table,
They've wrestled my dogs and they've killed all my cats,"
"Truth then," says I, "just give me those five shillings,
And I'll tell you a way to get rid of the rats."
"I will then," said he, "we'll invite them to supper,
And dry bread and cheese lay before them for sure,
Never mind if they're willing, but charge them five shilling,
And devil the rat will you ever see more.

 

[fox69]

"The Wild Rover"

"The Wild Rover"


I've been a wild rover for many's the year
and I've spent all my money on whiskey and beer.
But now I'm returning with gold in great store
and I never will play the wild rover no more

[Chorus:]
And it's no, nay, never,
no, nay, never, no more
will I play the wild rover
no, never, no more

I went into an ale-house I used to frequent
and I told the landlady my money was spent.
I asked her for credit, she answered me nay,
Such "a custom like yours I can have any day

[Chorus]

I took from my pocket ten sovereigns bright
and the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight.
She said I'd have whiskey and wines of the best
and the words that she told me were only in jest.

[Chorus]

I'll go home to my parents, confess what I've done,
and I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son.
And when they've caressed me as oft' times before
then I never will play the wild rover no more

[Chorus]

 

[fox69]

"The Woman From Wexford"

"The Woman From Wexford"


Well, there was an old woman from Wexford
And in Wexford she did dwell
She loved her old man dearly
But another one twice as well

When me tiggery, tiggery, toram
And me toram, toram, ta

Ah, one day she went to a doctor
Some medicine for to find
She said, will ye give me something
That'll make me old man blind?

When me tiggery, tiggery, toram
And me toram, toram, ta

Says he, give him eggs and marrow bones
And make him sup them all
And it won't be so very long after
That he won't see you at all

When me tiggery, tiggery, toram
And me toram, toram, ta

Well, the doctor wrote a letter
And he signed it with his hand
He sent it to the old man
Just to let him understand

When me tiggery, tiggery, toram
And me toram, toram, ta

Well, she fed him the eggs and marrow bones
And she made him sup them all
And it wasn't so very long after that
He couldn't see the wall

When me tiggery, tiggery, toram
And me toram, toram, ta

Said the old man, I think I drown meself
But that might be a sin
Says she, I'll come along with you
And I'll help to shove you in

When me tiggery, tiggery, toram
And me toram, toram, ta

Well, the old woman she stood back a bit
For to rush an' push him in
But the old man gently stood aside
And she went tumblin' in

When me tiggery, tiggery, toram
And me toram, toram, ta

Oh, how loudly she did yell
And how loudly she did bawl
Arra, hold yer whist, old woman
[Incomprehensible] he, I can't see you at all

When me tiggery, tiggery, toram
And me toram, toram, ta

Ah, sure eggs and eggs and marrow bones
May make yer old man blind
But if you want to drown him
You must creep up close behind

When me tiggery, tiggery, toram
And me toram, toram, ta
Hey, tiggery, tiggery, toram
And the blind man he could see

 

[fox69]

"The Zoological Gardens"

"The Zoological Gardens"



Thunder and lightning is no lark
When Dublin city is in the dark
So if you've any money go up to the park
And view the zoological garden

We went out there to see the zoo
We saw the lion and the kangaroo
There was he-males and she-males of every hue
Up in the zoological garden

We went out there by Castleknock
Says she to me "Sure we'll court on the lock"
Then I knew she was one of the rare old stock
From outside the zoological garden

We went out there on our honeymoon
Says she to me "If you don't come soon
I'll have to get in with the hairy baboons"
Up in the zoological garden

Says she to me "It's seven o'clock
And time for me to be changin' me frock
For I long to see the old cockatoo"
Up in the zoological garden

Says she to me "Me lovely Jack
Sure I love a ride on the elephant's back
If you don't get out that I'll give you such a crack
Up in the zoological garden

Oh, thunder and lightning is no lark
When Dublin city is in the dark
So if you've any money go up to the park
And view The Zoological Gardens

 

[fox69]

"Thirty Foot Trailer"

"Thirty Foot Trailer"



The old ways are changing you cannot deny
The day of the traveler's over
There's nowhere to gang and there's nowhere to bide
So farewell to the life of the rover

Goodbye to the tent and the old caravan
To the tinker, the rover, the traveling man
And goodbye tae the thirty foot trailer

Farewell tae the cant and the traveling tongue
Farewell tae the Romany talking
The buying, the selling, the old fortune telling
The knock on the door and the hawking

You got to move fast to keep up with the times
For these days a man cannot dander
There's a bylaw to say you maun be on your way
And another to say ye can't wander

Farewell to the blossom and besoms of broom
Farewell tae the creels and the baskets
The folk of today would far rather pay
For a thing that is made oot o plastic

The old ways are passing and soon will be gone
And progress is aye a big factor
Its sent to afflict us and when they evict us
They tow us away wi a tractor

Farewell tae the pony, the cob, and the mare
The reins and the harness are idle
You don't need a strap when you're breaking up scrap
So farewell tae the bit and the bridle

Farewell tae the fields where we've sweated and toiled
At pulling and hauling and lifting
They'll soon have machines and the traveling queens
And their menfolk had better be shifting

 

[fox69]

"Three Lovely Lassies From Kimmage"

"Three Lovely Lassies From Kimmage"



There were three lovely lasses from Kimmage,
From Kimmage, from Kimmage, from Kimmage
And whenever there with a bit of a scrimmage
Sure I was the toughest of all
Sure I was the toughest of all.

Well the cause of the row is Joe Cashin
Joe Cashin, Joe Cashin, Joe Cashin
For he told me he thought I'd look smashin'
At a dance in Saint Anthony's Hall,
At a dance in Saint Anthony's Hall.

Well the other two young ones were flippin',
They were flippin', they were flippin', they were flippin'
When they saw me and Joe and we trippin'
To the strains of the Tennessee Waltz,
To the strains of the Tennessee Waltz.

When he gets a few jars he goes frantic
Frantic, goes frantic, goes frantic
But he's tall and he's dark and romantic
And I love him in spite of it all,
And I love him in spite of it all.

Well he told me he thought we should marry,
Should marry, should marry, should marry
He said it was foolish to tarry,
So I lent him the price of the ring,
So I lent him the price of the ring,

Well me da sayd he'll give us a present,
A present, a present, a present
A stool and a lousy stuffed pheasant,
And a picture to hang on the wall,
And a picture to hang on the wall.

I went down to the Tenan sea Section in the Corporation,
The section, the section, the section
The T.D. just before the election,
Said he'd get me a house near me ma,
Said he'd get me a house near me ma.

Well we're gettin' a house, the man said it
Oh he said it, oh he said it, oh he said it
When I've five or six kids to me credit
In the meantime we'll live with me ma,
In the meantime we'll live with me ma.