IRISH SONG LYRICS

IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR THE IRISH

It's a Great Day for the Irish,It's a great day for the fair!
The sidewalks of New York are thick with blarney,
For sure you'd think of New York was ol' Killarney!
It's a great day for the shamrock,For the flags in full array.
We're feeling so inspirish,Sure because for all the Irish,
It's a Great, Great, DAY!

--------------

DANNY BOY

Oh, Danny Boy, the pipes... the pipes are calling,
From glen to glen and down the mountain side.
The summer's gone and all the leaves are falling,
Tis you, Tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back, when summer's in the meadow,
and all the valley's hushed and white with snow.
And I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow,
Oh, Danny Boy, Oh, Danny Boy, I love you so!
But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying
If I be dead, as dead I well may be.
Then come and find the place where I am lying,
And kneel and say an Ave there for me.
And I shall hear, though soft your tread above me,
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be.
And you shall bend, and tell me that you love me,
And I shall rest in peace until you come to me.

--------------

MY WILD IRISH ROSE

My Wild Irish Rose, The sweetest flower that grows.
You may search everywhere,
But none can compare with my wild Irish Rose.
My Wild Irish Rose, The dearest flower that grows.
And someday for my sake, She may let me take,
The bloom from my wild Irish Rose.

--------------

WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING

When Irish eyes are smiling
Sure it's like a morning spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter,You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.
There's a tear in your eye, and I'm wondering why,
For it never should be there at all.
With such power in your smile, sure a stone you'd beguile,
So there's never a teardrop should fall.
When your sweet lilting laughter's like some fairy song,
And your eyes twinkle bright as can be,
You should laugh all the while and all other times smile,
And now smile a smile for me. Chorus:
When Irish eyes are smiling
Sure it's like a morning spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter,
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.

--------------

I'M LOOKING OVER A FOUR-LEAF CLOVER

I'm looking over a four leaf clover
That I over-looked before.
One leaf is sunshine, the second is rain,
Third is the roses that grows in the lane.
No need explaining the one remaining
Is somebody I adore.
I'm looking over a four leaf clover
That I over-looked before!

--------------

HARRIGAN

H-A-Double R-IG-A-N spells Harrigan!
Proud of all the Irish that's in me.
Divil a man can say a word agin me!
Oh, H-A-Double R-IG-A-N you see!
It's the name,
That no shame has ever been connected with
It's a name that a shame never has been connected with Harrigan, that's me!

--------------

THE UNICORN

A long time ago when the Earth was green,
There was more kinds of animals then you've ever seen.
And they'd run around free while the world was being born.
The loveliest of all was the Unicorn!
There was green alligators and long necked geese,
Hump back camels and chimpanzees.
Cats and rats and elephants but sure a you're born,
The loveliest of all was the Unicorn!
But the Lord seen some sinnin' and it caused him pain.
He says, "Stand back, I'm gonna make it rain.
So hey, Brother Noah, I'll tell you what to do.
Go and build me a floating zoo."
"You'll take two alligators and a couple of geese,
Two hump back camels and two chimpanzees.
Two cats, two rats, two elephants but as sure as you're born,
Noah, don't you forget my unicorns!"
Well, Noah looked out through the drivin' rain,
But the unicorns was hidin'-playin' silly games.
They were kickin' and a-splashin' while the rain was pourin',
Oh them foolish unicorns."
So you take two alligators and a couple of geese,
Two hump back camels and two chimpanzees.
Two cats, two rats, two elephants
but as sure as you're born,
Noah, don't you forget my unicorns."
And the the ark started movin' and it drifted with the tide,
And the unicorns looked up from the rock and cried.
And the water cameup and sort of floated them away,
That's why you've never seen a unicorn to this day.
You'll see a lot of alligators and a whole mess of geese,
You'll see hump back camels and chimpanzees.
You'll see cats and rats and elephants but as sure as you're born,
You're never gonna see no unicorn.

--------------

THAT'S AN IRISH LULLABY

Over in Killarney, many years ago,
Me Mother sang a song to me in tones so sweet and low.
Just a simple little ditty, in her good old Irish way.
And I'd give the world if she could sing that song to me this day.
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li.
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Hush now don't you cry!
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li.
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, That's an Irish lullaby.

--------------

I'LL TAKE YOU HOME AGAIN, KATHLEEN

I'll take you home again, Kathleen,
Across the ocean wild and wide
To where your heart has ever been
Since first you were my bonny bride.
The roses all have left your cheek;
I've watched them fade away and die.
Your voice is sad when e'er you speak
And tears be-dim your loving eyes.
Oh, I will take you back, Kathleen,
To where your heart will feel no pain.
And when the fields are fresh and green
I'll take you to your home again.

--------------

SWEET ROSIE O'GRADY

Sweet Rosie O'Grady
My dear little rose,
She's my steady lady,
Most everyone knows,
And when we are married,
How happy we'll be,
I love Sweet Rosie O'Grady,
And Rosie O'Grady loves me.

--------------

Galway Bay

If you ever go across the sea to Ireland,
Then maybe at the closing of your day,
You will sit and watch the moon rise over Glodagh,
And see the sun go down on Galway Bay.
And if there's to be a life hereafter,
And somehow I'm sure there's going to be,
I will ask my God to let me make my heaven,
In that dear land across the Irish sea.
Just to hear again the ripple of the trout stream
and the women in the meadows making hay,
to sit beside the turf fire in the cabin
and watch the barefoot gossams [spelled phonetically] at their play.
For the breezes blowin' o'er the sea from Ireland
are perfumed by the heather as they blow
And the women in the upland diggin' tatties
speak a language that the strangers do not know.
For the stangers came and tried to teach us their way.
They scorned us just for bein' what we are.
But they might as well go chasin' after moon beams
Or light a penny candle from a star.
And if there's to be a life hereafter,
And somehow I'm sure there's going to be,
I will ask my God to let me make my heaven,
In that dear land across the Irish sea.

--------------

SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK

Eastside, Westside,
All around the town,
The kids sand "Ring-a-Rosie,
Londonbridge is falling down."
Boys and girls together,
Me and Mamie O'Rourke,
Tripped the light fantastic
On the Sidewalks of New York.

-------------

COURTING IN THE KITCHEN

Come single belle and beau unto me pay attention
Don't ever fall in love it's the devil's own invention
For once I fell in love with a maiden so bewitchen'
Miss Henrietta Bell down in Captain Kelly's Kitchen

Chorus:
Singin' Toor rah loo rah lay
Singin' Toor rah roo rah laddie
Singin' Toor rah loo rah lay
Singin' Toor rah roo rah laddie

At the age of seventeen I was apprenticed to a grocer
Not far from Steven's Green where Miss Henri' used to go sir
Her manners were so fine she'd set me heart a twitchen'
When she invited me to a hooley in the kitchen

Chorus

Sunday being the day we were to have the flare up
I dressed myself quite gay and I frizzed and oiled my hair up
The Captain had no wife and he'd gone off a fishin'
So we kicked up high life below the stairs in the kitchen

Chorus

With me arms around her waist she slyly hinted marriage
When to the door in haste came Captain Kelly's carriage
Her look told me full well and they were not bewitchin'
That she wished I'd get to hell or somewhere from the kitchen

Chorus

She flew up off my knee, Full five feet up or higher
And over head and heels threw me slap into the fire
My new Repealer's coat that I bought from Mr. Mitchell
With a thirty shilling note went to blazes in the kitchen

Chorus

I Grieved to see me duds besmeared with smoke and ashes
With a tub of dirty suds right in my face she dashes
As I lay on the floor the water she kept pitchin'
Till a footman broke the door and came chargin' in the kitchen

Chorus

When he captain came downstairs tho' he'd seen me situation
Despite of all me prayers I was marched off to the station
For me they had no bail tho' to get home I was itchin'
And I had to tell the tale of how I came into the kitchen

Chorus

I said she did invite me but she gave a flat denial
For assault she did indict me and I was sent for trial
She swore I robbed the house in spite of all her screechin'
And I got six months hard, for me courting in the kitchen

Chorus

--------------

THE ROSE OF TRALEE

The pale moon was rising above the green mountains,
The sun was declining beneath the blue sea
When I strayed with my love to the pure crystal fountain
That stands in the beautiful vale of Tralee,
She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer,
Yet t'was not her beauty along that won me.
Oh, no! t'was the truth in her eyes ever dawning
That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.

--------------

PEG OF MY HEART

Peg O'My Heart, I love you,
We'll never part, I love you,
Dear little girl, sweet little girl,
Sweeter than the Rose of Erin
Are your winning smiles endearin',
Peg O'My Heart, your glances
With Irish art entrance us,
Come be my own,
Come, make your home in my heart.

--------------

PEGGY O'NEIL

If her eyes are blue as skies,
That's Peggy O'Neil.
If she smiling all the while
That's Peggy O'Neil.
If she walks like a sly little rogue-
If she talks with a cute little brogue-
Sweet personality, full of rascality,
That's Peggy O'Neil.

--------------

MACNAMARA'S BAND

Oh! Me name is MacNamara,
I'm the leader of the band.
Although we're few in numbers
We're the finest in the land.
We play at wakes and weddings
And at ev'ry fancy ball,
And when we play to funerals
We play the march from Saul.
Oh!
The drums go bang
And the crystals clang,
And the horns they blaze away;
McCarthy pumps the old bassoon
While I the pipes do play;
And Hennessey Tennessee tootles the flute,
And the music is somethin' grand;
A credit to old Ireland is MacNamara's band.
Oh! My name is Uncle Yulius and
From Sweden I have come,
To play with MacNamara's band
And beat the big bass drum,
And when I march along the street
The ladies think I'm grand
They shout "There's Uncle Yulius
playing with an Irish band."
Oh! I wear a bunch of shamrocks
And a uniform of green,
And I'm the funniest looking Swede
that you have ever seen.
There's O'Briens and Ryans
and Sheehans and Meehans
They come from Ireland, But by Yimminy
I'm the only Swede in MacNamara's band.

--------------

A LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN

Sure, a little bit o' Heaven fell from out of the sky one day,
And nestled on the ocean in a spot so far away;
And the angels found it, sure it looked so sweet and fair.
They said suppose we leave it, for it looks so peaceful there!
So they sprinkled it with star dust just to make the shamrocks grow;
'Tis the only place you'll find them,No matter where you go;
Then they dotted it with silver
To make its lakes so grand,
And when they had it finished
Sure they called it IRELAND!

--------------

MICKEY

Mickey, pretty Mickey,
With your hair a raven hue.
In your smiling so beguiling,
There a bit of Killarney,
Bit of the Blarney, too.
Child-hood in the wildwood,
Like a mountain flow'r you grew.
Pretty Mickey, pretty Mickey,
Can you blame anyone for falling in love with you?

--------------

MOTHER MACHREE

Sure, I love the dear silver
That shines in your hair,
And the brow that's furrowed
And wrinkled with care,
I kiss the dear fingers,
So toil worn for me,
Oh, God bless you,
and keep you Mother Machree!

--------------

THE BOWERY

Oh, the night that I struck New York
I went out for a quiet walk,
Folks who were on to the city say
better by far that I take Broadway
But I was out to enjoy the sights
there was the Bowery ablaze with lights,
I had one of the Devil's own night
I'll never go there anymore. (Refrain)
The Bow'ry, the Bow'ry
They say such things,
And they do strange things,
On the Bow'ry, the Bow'ry
I'll never go there anymore.
The Bow'ry, the Bow'ry
They say such things,
And they do strange things,
On the Bow'ry, the Bow'ry
I'll never go there anymore.

--------------

CLANCY LOWERED THE BOOM

Now Clancy was a peaceful man, if you know what I mean.
The cops picked up the pieces after Clancy left the scene.
He never looked for trouble, that's a fact you can assume.
But never-the-less, when trouble would press,
Clancy lowered the boom!
Oh, that Clancy! Oh, that Clancy!
Whenever they got his Irish up,
Clancy lowered the boom!
O'Leary was a fighting man, they all knew he was tough.
He strutted 'round the neighborhood, a-shootin' off his guff.
He picked a fight with Clancy, then and there he sealed his doom.
Before you could shout "O'Leary, look out!"
Clancy lowered the boom!
Clancy left the barber shop with tonic on his hair,
He walked into the poolroom and he met O'Reilly there.
O'Reilly said "For goodness sakes, now do I smell perfume?"
Before you could stack your cue in the rack,
Clancy lowered the boom!
Mulrooney walked into the bar and ordered up a round.
He left his drink to telephone, and Clancy drank it down.
Mulrooney said "Who drunk me drink? I'll lay him in his tomb!"
Before you could pat the top of your hat,
Clancy lowered the boom!
O'Houlihan delivered ice to Misses Clancy's flat.
He'd always linger for a while, to talk of this and that.
One day he kissed her just as Clancy walked into the room.
Before you could say the time of day,
Clancy lowered the boom!
The neighbors all turned out for Kate O'Grady's weddin' night.
McDoogle said "Let's have some fun - I think I'll start a fight!"
He wrecked the hall, then kissed the bride
and pulverized the groom.
Then quick as a wink, before you could think,
Clancy lowered the boom!

--------------

HOW ARE THINGS IN GLOCCA MORRA?

How are things in Glocca Morra?
Is that little brook still leaping there?
Does it still run down to Donny-cove?
Through Killy-begs, Kilkerry and Kildare?
How are things in Glocca Morra?
Is that willow tree still weeping there?
Does that laddie with the twinklin' eye
Come whistlin' by and does he walk away,
Sad and dreamy there not to see me there?
So I ask each weepin' willow
And each brook along the way,
And each lad that comes a whistlin' Too-ra-lay
How are things in Glocca Morra
This fine day?

--------------

IT'S THE SAME OLD SHILLELAGH

Sure it's the same old shillelagh,
Me Father brought from Ireland.
And Divil a man prouder than He,
As He walked with it in his hand.
He'd lead the band on Paddy's Day
And twirl it round his mitt
And divil a bit we'd laught at it
Or Dad would have a fit
Sure with the same old shillelagh,
Me Father could lick a dozen men
As fastas they'd get up be gorry,
He'd knock'em down again
And many's the time
He used it on me
To make me understand the same old shillelagh
Me Father brought from Ireland.

--------------

WHO THREW THE OVERALLS IN MRS. MURPHY'S CHOWDER?

Mrs. Murphy gave a party just about a week a-go,
Everything was plentiful the Murphy's they're not slow,
They treated us like gentlemen we tried to act the same,
And only for what happened well it was an awful shame.

Chorus
Who threw the overalls in Mrs. Murphy's chowder?
Nobody spoke so we shouted all the louder,
It's an Irish trick that's true,
But we'll lick the "mick" that threw
The overalls in Mrs. Murphy's chowder.

When she dished the chowder out she fainted on the spot.
She found a pair of overalls at the bottom of the pot.
Tim Nolan, he got rippin' mad. His eyes were bulging out.
He stood upon the piano and loudly he did shout.

Chorus

They took the pants from out the soup and laid them on the floor.
Each man swore upon his life he ne'er seen them before.
They were plastered up with morter and were worn out at the knee.
Only for what happened then it was too plain to see.

Chorus

When Mrs. Murphy she came to, she began to cry and pout.
She had them in the wash that day and forgot to take them out.
Tim Nolan he excused himself for what he said that night
So we put music to the words and sang with all our might.

--------------

MARY IT'S A GRAND OLD NAME

For it is Mary, Mary, plain as any name can be;
But with propiety, society will say Marie;
But it was Mary, Mary, long before the fashions came,
And there is something there, that sounds so square,
It's a grand old name.

--------------

THE PARTING GLASS

Oh all the money that e're I spent,
I spent it in good company.
And all the harm that e're I've done
alas it was to none but me.
And all I've done for want of wit
To memory now I can't recall.
So fill to me the parting glass,
Goodnight and joy be with you all,
Oh all the comrades that e're I had
Are sorry now I'm going away.
And all the sweethearts that e're I had
Would wish me one more day to stay.
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not.
I'll gently rise and I'll softly call
Goodnight and joy be with you all.
If I had money enough to spend,
And leisure time to sit awhile.
There is a fair maid in this town,
That sorely has my heart beguiled.
Her rosey cheeks and ruby lips,
I own she has my heart in thrall.
Then fill me with the parting glass,
Good night and joy be with you all.
(This is a slow, sweet song...sung at the end of an evening.)

--------------

GALWAY BAY (Parody)

Maybe some day I'll go back again to Ireland
If my dear old wife would only pass away
She nearly has my heart broke with all her naggin
She's got a mouth as big as Galway Bay
See her drinking sixteen pints of Pabst Blue Ribbon
And then she can walk home without a sway
If the sea were beer instead of salty water
She'd live and die in Galway Bay
See her drinking sixteen pints at Padgo Murphey's
The barman says I think it's time to go
Well she doesn't try to speak to him in Gaelic
In a language that the clergy do not know
On her back she has tattooed a map of Ireland
And when she takes her bath on Saturday
She rubs the sunlight soap around by Claddagh
Just watch the suds flow down by Galway Bay.

--------------

IRISH ROVER

In the year of our lord eighteen hundred and six
We set sail from the coal quay of Cork
We were sailing away with a cargo of brick
For the grand city hall in New York
We'd an elegant craft that was rigged fore and aft
And how the trade winds they drove her
She had twenty three masts and she stood several blasts
And they called her the Irish Rover
There was Barney Magee from the banks of the Lee
There was Hogan from county Tyrone
There was Johnny McGurk who was scared stiff of work
And a chap from Westmeath named Malone
There was Slugger O'Toole who was drunk as a rule
And fighting Bill Tracy from Dover
And your man Mick McCann from the banks of the Bann
Was the skipper of the Irish Rover
We had one million bags of the best silo rags
We had two million barrels of bone
We had three million bales of old nanny goat tails
We had four million barrels of stone
We had five million hogs and six million dogs
And seven million barrels of Porter
We had eight million sides of old blind horse's hides
In the hold of the Irish Rover
We had sailed several years when the measles broke out
And our ship lost her way in the fog
And the whole crew was reduced down to two
Twas myself and the captain's old dog
Then the ship struck a rock,
O'Lord what a shock
And nearly tumbled over
Turned nine time around,
then the old dog was drowned
I'm the last of the Irish Rover

--------------

LEAVING LIVERPOOL

Fare thee well to you my own true love
I am going far away
I am bound for California
But I know that I'll return someday

Chorus

So fare thee well my own true love
And when I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But darling when I think of thee
I have shipped on a Yankee sailing ship
Davey Crockett is her name
And Burgess is the captain of her
And they say she's a floating hell

Chorus

Now the sun is on the
Harbor love and I wish I could remain
For I know it will be a long long time
Before I will see you again

--------------

THE WILD ROVER

It was Friday morn when we set sail
And we were not far from the land
When our captain spied a Mermaid so fair
With a comb and a glass in her hand

Chorus
And the ocean waves may roll
And the stormy winds may blow Shout: May Blow!

And we poor sailors come skipping to the top
While the land lubbers lie down below below below
While the land lubbers lie down below
Then up spoke the Captain of our gallant ship
And a fine spoken man was he
Saying "I have a wife in Brooklyn by the sea,
And tonight a widow she will be."

Chorus

Then up spoke the cabin boy of our gallant ship
And a brave young lad was he
"Oh I have a sweetheart in Salem by the sea,
And tonight she'll be weepin' for me."

Chorus

Then up spoke the cook of our gallant ship
And a crazy old butcher was he
"I care much more for my pots and my pans
than I do for the bottom of the sea."

Chorus

Then three times round spun our gallant ship
And three times round spun she
Three times round spun our gallant ship
And she sank to the bottom of the sea

--------------

THE WILD COLONIAL BOY

There was a wild colonial boy Jack Dugan was his name
He was born and bred in Ireland in a house called Castle Maine
He was his father's only son his mother's pride and joy
and dearly did his parents love the wild colonial boy
At the early age of sixteen years he left his native home
And to Australia's sunny land he was inclined to roam
He robbed the rich and he helped the poor,
He stabbed James MacEvoy
A terror to Australia was the wild colonial boy
One morning on the prairie wild Jack Dugan rode around
While listening to a mocking bird singing a cheerful song
Out jumped three troopers fierce and grim Kelly, Davis, and Fitzroy
They all set out to capture him
The wild colonial boy
Surrender now Jack Dugan come
You see it's three to one
Surrender in the Queen's name sir
You are a plundering son
Jack drew two pistols from his side
and glared upon Fitzroy
"I'll fight but not surrender," cried
the wild colonial boy
He fired a shot at Kelly
which brought him to the ground
He fired point blank at Davis too
who fell dead at the sound
But a bullet pierced his brave young heart
from the pistol of Fitzroy
And that is how they captured him
the wild colonial boy

--------------

THE WILD ROVER

I've been a wild rover for many a year
And I spent all my money on whiskey and beer
And 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 nay never no more

I went to an alehouse I used to frequent
And I told the landlady my money was spent
I asked her for credit she answered me nay
Such favor as 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 have whiskey and wines of the best
And the words that I spoke sure 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 if they caress me as oft times before
Sure I will never play the wild rover no more

--------------

IT'S HOW I SPELL IRELAND

I is for the Irish in your eyes so bright and clear
R means right and when you're right, you have no need to fear
E is for Eileen, your mother's name I mean
L is for the lakes where I first met my sweet Coleen
A for angels who are watching over you
N means never cry, keep smiling through
D is for your daddy's lesson, hope that it will be a blessin
That's how I spell IRELAND.

--------------

AN IRISHMAN'S DREAM

Sure I've roamed this wide world over
But of all the lands I've seen
There's no spot I'd rather dwell in
Than my little isle of Green
Only last night I was dreamin'
Of a sight that thrilled me through
But what I saw I'll see no more
'twas too good to be true.
Sure the shamrocks were growing on Broadway
Every girl was an Irish colleen
The town of New York was the county of Cork
All the buildings were painted green
Sure the Hudson looked just like the Shannon
Oh, how good and how real it did seem
I could hear me mother singin',
sweet Shannon bells ringin'
'twas only an Irishman's dream

--------------

ERIN, YOU'RE WEARIN' A WONDERFUL SMILE

If I'm dreamin', don't wake me, Macushla,
For I see Erin wearin' a smile;
And dried are the tears
That were fallin' for years
On her own darlin' Emerald Isle.

Chorus
Oh, then Erin, you're wearin' a wonderful smile,
And it's proud I am of you today.
All the sorrows you've suffered were well worth the while
Just to know that they're fadin' away.

Oh, the Shannon is singin' an auld Irish song,
And the shamrock again is in style.
May the blessin' of God be yours always, auld Sod:
Erin, you're wearin' a wonderful smile.
Oh, I hope I'm not dreamin', Macushla,
And the smile that I see does not die,
'Til the skies overhead see the shamrock grow red,
And the lakes of Killarney run dry.

Chorus