Song Lyrics
COME IN
Come in, come in I'll do the best I can
Come in, come in bring your whole bloody clan
Take it slow and easy and I'll shake you by the hand
Sit you down I'll treat you decent, I'm an Irishman
I've traveled East, I've traveled West, I've roamed from town to town
I've cut the harvest down in Clare, met people of renown
Where ever I went the welcome mat was always waiting me'
So fill your glass along with us and old Ireland free
Come in, come in I'll do the best I can
Come in, come in bring your whole bloody clan
Take it slow and easy and I'll shake you by the hand
Sit you down I'll treat you decent, I'm an Irishman
When I am gone some other place and my memories going dim
Raise your glass and join the toast, invite the colleens in
Then think about the good old times and you'll remember me
When good old songs were roaring out and the porter flowing free
Come in, come in I'll do the best I can
Come in, come in bring your whole bloody clan
Take it slow and easy and I'll shake you by the hand
Sit you down I'll treat you decent, I'm an Irishman
COME O'ER THE STREAM CHARLIE
Chorus:
Come o'er the stream Charlie, dear Charlie, brave Charlie
Come o'er the stream Charlie and dine with MacLean
And though ye be weary we'll mak' yer heart cheery
And welcome our Charlie and his loyal train
We'll bring doon the red deer; we'll bring doon the black steer
The lamb frae the bracken and the doe frae the ben
The salt sea we'll harry and bring to our Charlie
The cream frae the bothy and the curd frae the pen
Chorus:
Come o'er the stream Charlie, dear Charlie, brave Charlie
Come o'er the stream Charlie and dine with MacLean
And though ye be weary we'll mak' yer heart cheery
And welcome our Charlie and his loyal train
And you will drink freely the dews o' Glen Sheerly
That in the starlight when kings dinnae ken
And deep be your mead o' the win that is red
To drink to your sire and his friend the MacLean
Chorus:
Come o'er the stream Charlie, dear Charlie, brave Charlie
Come o'er the stream Charlie and dine with MacLean
And though ye be weary we'll mak' yer heart cheery
And welcome our Charlie and his loyal train
If aught will invite ye or more can delight ye
It's ready a troop of our bold hielan' men
They'll range on the heather with bayonet and feather
Strong arms and broad claymores three hundred and ten
Chorus:
Come o'er the stream Charlie, dear Charlie, brave Charlie
Come o'er the stream Charlie and dine with MacLean
And though ye be weary we'll mak' yer heart cheery
And welcome our Charlie and his loyal train
COME OUT YE BLACK AND TANS
(Stephen Behan)
I was born on a Dublin street, where the loyal drums do beat
And the loving English feet would walk all over us
And each and every night when me Da' would come home tight
He'd invite the neighbors outside with this Chorus
Chorus:
Come out ye black and tans, come out and fight me like a man
Show us how you won your medals down in Flanders
Tell us how the IRA made you run like hell away
From the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra
Come let us hear you tell how you slandered great Parnell
When you thought him well and truly persecuted
Where are the sneers and jeers that you loudly let us hear
When our leaders of sixteen were executed
Chorus
Allen, Larkin and O'Brien, you loudly called them swine
Robert Emmett who you hung and drew and quartered
High upon the scaffold high, you murdered Henry Joy
And our Croppy Boys in Wexford you did slaughter
Chorus
Come tell us how you slew them old Arabs two by two
Like the Zulu's that had spears and bows and arrows
How bravely you faced one with your sixteen pounder gun
And you frightened them poor natives to their morrow
Chorus
The day is come fast and the times are here at last
As each English Shoneen he will run before us
And if there be a need, our kids will say "God speed"
With a bar or two of Stephen Behan's Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Recordings include: The Wolfe Tones' "Let The People Sing" 1972; Live alive-oh! 1980; "25th Anniversary" 1989.
A COMICAL GENIUS
A comical genius was thinking one day
How he'd take up a Job and receive handy pay
He didn't like begin' and work was to hard
So he got a bright notion to join up the "Guards"
Fiddle I dump Fiddle I dump fiddle I dumdum day
Well he went up to Dublin to the depot went in
Got a new suit of blue as bright as new pins
They drilled him they drilled him they drilled him so hard
The ould sergeant proclaimed him a funny fledge guard
Fiddle I dum Diddlee I dum diddlee I dumdum day
He was stationed some where near the town of Athy
Rounds the roads of that district he kept a close eye
Now the girls they admired him as all brazers do
Fall in love with guard and his new suit of blue
Diddlee I dum Diddlee I dum diddlee I dumdum day
Well they'd laugh and they'd wink and they'd nod as he'd pass
Oh but this civee guard has his eye on one lass
But this little colleen she being a die hard
Soon made it quite clear that she wanted no guard
Diddlee I dum Diddlee I dum diddlee I dumdum day
One time when on duty on a dark winter's night
He caught her out cycling without any light
Where's your light miss Said he for an answer sez she
It's next to me liver, where you'll never be
Diddlee I dum Diddlee I dum diddlee I dum dum day
CONTINENTAL CÉILÍ
(Johnny Mulhearn & Christy Moore)
Over in McCann's there's a grand type of dance band a-playing
And they're spinnin' out the Continental Céilí,
They're comin' in their cars from the bars over in Leitir & Killane
Just to hear the famous Gunther Reynolds playing.
Out the Star of Munster with Hans O'Donoghue
Neatly tappin' out a tango on the spoons.
Such commotion will act like a lotion on the struttin'
At the Continental Céilí tonight.
Wolfgang's playing on the comb, someone shouts at him go home.
Klaus in playin' a slow air on the bodhràn.
Quinn from Corofin his fiddle tucked beneath his chin. Ssh!
He's going to play the Bucks of Oranmore now.
And an old-fashioned lady begins to sing a song.
Ah! Lads a bit of order over here.
Clarinbridge for the chowder, keep your powder dry,
For the Continental Céilí tonight.
Ciaran closing his eyes pretends he's in disguise,
When he sees and old flame comin' over
He's singing for the Swedes in their tweeds doin' all he can to please
The night's at such a delicate stage,
Later on he'll give an audience to one of them or two,
He'll sing the Dyin' Swan to touch their feelings,
Tonight's his night and tomorrow night will be just the same.
At the Continental Céilí tonight
Ada let me out to the bar where the boys are goin' far
And they're spinnin' out the Continental Ceili.
Never mind the liquor, the music's in my soul so long
As I can hear the band a-playin'
The pipes and the flutes and the fiddles are in tune.
Whoo! I'd love to meet a European girl
Ada now me head is goin' light and the band is playin' tight
At the Continental Céilí tonight.
All the publicans are there, 'tis like a hirin' fair tryin' to figure out
How much McCann is makin'.
To keep their pubs outta Stubbs they're lashin' out big subs
In a burst of fierce anticipation.
Moguls from Muckhill are starin' at the till
Tryin' to get the lowdown on the line-up
They'll be buyin' free porter for the members of the band
At the Continental Céilí tonight.
COORTIN' IN THE KITCHEN
Come single belle and beau, to me now pay attention
And love I'll plainly show is the divil own Invention
For once in love I fell with a maiden's smiles bewitching
Miss Henrietta Bell Down to Captain Phibb's kitchen
Chorus:
Ri— tooral-oor-al lah Ri— tooral-oor-al addy
Ri— tooral-oor-al lah tooral-oor-al addy
At the age of seventeen I was tied unto a grocer,
Not far from Stephen's Green, where Miss Bell for tea would go, sir.
Her manners were so free, she set my heart a twitching,
She invited me to tea, down in Captain Phibbs's kitchen.
Next Sunday being the day, we were to have the flare up,
I dressed myself quite gay, an' I frizzed and oiled my hair up.
As the captain had no wife, he had gone out a-fishin',
So we kicked up high life, below-stairs in the kitchen.
Just as the clock struck six we sat down to the table;
She handed tea and cakes—I ate while I was able.
I ate cakes, drank punch and tea, till my side had got a stitch in,
And the hours flew quick away, while coortin' in the kitchen.
With my arms round her waist I kissed—she hinted marriage
To the door in dreadful haste came Captain Phibbs's carriage.
Her looks told me full well, that moment she was wishin'
That I'd get out to Hell, or somewhere far from the kitchen.
She flew up off my knees, 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. Stitchen
With a thirty-shilling note, went to blazes in the kitchen.
I grieved to see my duds, all besmeared with smoke and ashes,
When a tub of dirty suds, right in my face she dashes.
As I lay on the floor still the water she kept pitchin',
Till the footman broke the door, and marched down into the kitchen.
When the captain came down stairs, though he seen my situation,
In spite of all my prayers I was marched off to the station.
For me they'd take no bail, tho' to get home I was itchin',
But I had to tell the tale, of how I came into the kitchen.
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'.
So I six months went round the rack for coortin' the kitchen.
CORONATION CORONACH—Scottish Breakaway
(Words: Thurso Berwick)
O, Scotland hesna got a King,
And hesna got a Queen.
For ye canny hae the saicint Liz
When the first yin's never been.
Chorus:
Nae liz the Twa, nae Lillibet the Wan,
Nae Liz will ever dae,
We'll mak oor land republican
In a Scottish breakaway.
Her man's cried the Duke o Edinbury,
He's wan o the Kiltie Greeks.
O, dinna blaw ma Kilts awa,
'Cos Lizzie weirs the breeks.
He's a handsome man an he looks like Don Juan,
He's beloved by the weaker sex,
But it disnae really matter a damn,
'Cos it's Lizzie signs the cheques.
Noo her sister Meg's got a bonnie pair o legs,
But she didnae want a German or a Greek,
Pair auld Peter wis her choice, but he didnae suit the boys,
So they sellt him up the creek.
Here, but Meg wis fly an she beat them by and by,
Wi Tony Hyphenated-Armstrong, ding! dong!
But behind the pomp an play, the question o the day,
Wis who the hell did Suzy Wong? yum! yum!
Sae here's tae the Lion, the bonny Rampant Lion,
An a lang streetch tae its paw,
Gie a Hampden Roar, an' we're oot the door:
- An ta-ta, ti Chairlie's maw.
COSHIEVILLE
(Stuart McGregor)
The west winds blow to Coshieville
And with the winds came we
And where the river hugs the wood
And blackthorns bloom in spring
There stood a single rowan tree
So young and slender, so were you
I loved you both as there you grew
The day I took the road hat leads by Rannoch to the sea.
I carved your name at Coshieville
The rowan leaves stood still
The westering sun was in your eyes,
Despite your kisses and my lies
My thoughts had crossed the hill,
I broke your heart as the minutes passed
I smiled and said that nothing lasts
But many's the backward glance I cast as I went North to the drill
The big wheels rumble up and down,
The lorries know the way,
I raised my hand, I hitched a ride
We crossed the bridge at Rannochside
Where the diesel engines play,
I cursed Lochaweside's autumn rain,
The winter whisky in Dunblane,
Till the west wind blew in the spring again and my heart leapt at its song.
I came at night to Coshieville
A dozen hills aflame.
You had another hand to hold
Beneath the names we carved of old
There was another name.
You looked me through, you made no sign
I drank the cup of bitter wine,
But well I knew the fault was mine and I went the way I came.
COULTER'S CANDY
Chorus:
Ally Bally Ally Bally Bee
Sittin' on your mammy's knee
Greetin' for a wee bawbee (greetin' - crying; bawbee - halfpenny)
Tae buy some Coulter's candy
Ally Bally Ally Bally Bee
When you grow up you'll go to sea
Makin' pennies for your daddy and me
Tae buy some Coulter's candy
Mammy gie's ma thrifty doon (thrifty - money box)
Here's old Coulter comin' roon'
Wi' a basket on his croon (croon - head)
Sellin' Coulter's candy
Puir wee Annie, greetin' tae (puir wee - poor little)
What can puir wee mammy dae
Gie them a penny atween them twae
Tae buy some Coulter's candy
Puir wee Jeannie, she's lookin' awfu' thin
A rickle o' bones covered ower wi' skin (rickle - bundle)
Noo she's gettin' a wee double chin
Sookin' Coulter's candy
COURTIN' IN THE KITCHEN
Come single bell and beau unto me pay attention
Don't ever fall in love it's the divil's own invention
For once I fell in love with a maiden so bewitching
Miss Henrietta Bell out of Captain Kelly's kitchen
Chorus:
With me too-ra-loo-ra-loo Me too-ra-loo-ra-laddy
With me too-ra-loo-ra-loo Me too-ra-loo-ra-laddy
At the age of seventeen I was 'prenticed to a grocer
Not far from Stephen's Green where Miss Henry used to go sir
Her manners were sublime and she set me heart a-twitchin'
She invited me to a hooley in the kitchen
Next Sunday being the day we were to have the flare up
I dressed me self quite gay and I frizzed and oiled me hair up
The captain had no wife faith he had gone out fishin'
And we kicked up high life down below stairs in the kitchen
Just the clock struck six we sat down to the table
She handed tea and cake and I ate while I was able
I drank hot punch and tea till me side had got to stitching
And the hours past quick away when your courtin' in the kitchen
With me arms around her waist she slyly hinted marriage
To door in dreadful haste came Captain Kelly's carriage
Her eyes soon filled with hate and poison she was spittin'
She bid me go to blazes somewhere far, far from kitchen
She flew up off me knees full five feet up or higher
And over head and heels threw me slap into the fire
Me new a peelers coat that a bought from Mr. Mitchell
With a twenty shilling note went to blazes in the kitchen
I grieved to see me duds all filled with soot and ashes
When a tub of dirty suds right in me face she dashes
As I lay the floor and the water she kept pitching
The footman broke the door and walk straight into the kitchen
When the captain came downstairs though he saw me situation
In spite of all me prayers I was marched off to the station
For me they'd take no bail and to get home I was itching
But I had to tell the tale how I came into the kitchen
I said she did invite me but she gave a flat denial
For assault she did indict me and I was sent to trail
She swore I robbed the in spite of all her screechin'
And I got six months hard for me courtin' in the kitchen
THE CRACK WAS NINETY IN THE ISLE OF MAN
(Barney Rush)
Weren't we the rare old stock, spent the evening getting locked
Up in the Ace of Hearts where high stools were engaging
Over the Butt Bridge down by the dock, the boat it sailed at five o'clock
"Hurry now, lads," says Whack, "Or before we're there we'll all be back
Carry 'em if you can. The crack was ninety in the Isle of Man
Oh, the crack was ninety in the Isle of Man
Before we reached the Alexander Base the ding dong we did surely raise
In the bar of the boat we had great sport as the boat she sailed out of the port
Landed it up in the Douglas Head, inquiring for a vacant bed
To the dining room got shown by a decent woman up the road
"Lads ate it if you can." The crack was ninety in the Isle of Man
Oh, the crack was ninety in the Isle of Man
Next morning we went for a ramble round, viewed the sights of Douglas Town
Then we went for a mighty session in a pub they call Dick Darbies
We must have been drunk be half past, to sober up we went swimmin' in the sea
We all drew up our plan, the crack was ninety in the Isle of Man
Oh, the crack was ninety in the Isle of Man
That night we went to the Texas bar, all came down be horse and car
Met Big Jim and we all went in to drink some wine in Yate's
The Liverpool girls it was said were all to be met in Douglas Head
McShane was there in a tie and shirt. The foreign girls he was tryin' to flirt
Sayin', "Here girls, I'm your man." The crack was ninety in the Isle of Man
Oh, the crack was ninety in the Isle of Man
Whacker fancied his good looks. By an Isle of Man woman he was struck
But the Liverpool lads were by her side, throwin' the jar into her.
Whacker thought he'd take a chance, He asked the quare one for a dance.
Around the floor they stepped it out, to Whack it was no bother
Everythin' was goin' to plan, The crack was ninety in the Isle of Man
Oh, the crack was ninety in the Isle of Man
The Isle of Man woman she fancied Whack, your man stood there till his mates came back
Whack! they all whacked into Whack, and Whack was landed on his back
The Douglas Force arrived as well, Banjoed a couple of them as well
Landed up in the Douglas Jail, until the Dublin boat did sail
Deported every man, and the crack was ninety in the Isle of Man
Oh, the crack was ninety in the Isle of Man
CROOKED JACK
(Dominic Behan)
Come Irish men both young and stern
With adventure in your soul
There are better ways to spend the day
Than working down a hole
Chorus:
I was tall and true all of six foot two
Till they broke me across the back
By a name I'm known and it's not my own
And they call me crooked Jack
The ganger's blue eyed pet was I
Bold Jack could do no wrong
And the reason simply was because
I could work hard hours and long
Chorus
I saw men old before their time
Their faces drawn and gray
I never thought so soon would mine
Be lined that self same way
Chorus
I cursed the day I went away
To work on the hydra dams
Our sweat and tears our hopes and fears
Bound up in shuttering jams
Chorus
They say that honest toil is good
For the spirit and the soul
But believe me boys it's for sweat and blood
That they want you down the hole
THE CRUISE OF THE CALIBAR
Come all ye dry land sailors bold and listen to my song
There only forty verses so I won't detain you long
'Tis all about the history of a bold young Irish tar
Who sailed as man before the mast on board the Calibar
The Calibar was clipper flat, stern-fashioned fore and aft
The rudder it stuck out away behind and wheel was a great big shaft
With half a gale to swell her sail she could make two knots an hour
The smartest craft on the Grand Canal though only one-horse power
The skipper was a strapping youth and his height was four-foot-two
He nose was red and his eyes were black and his hair a Prussian blue
He wore a leather medal that he won in a terrible war
And his wife was passenger mate and cook on board of the Calibar
Chorus:
So heave away my hearty's for we're bound for lands a far
As we sail away from James' Street onboard of the Calibar
We sailed away with a favoring breeze, the weather it was sublime
But just in the straits of Rialto Bridge where ye can't pass two at a time
Another craft ran into us which gave us a serious check
It stove in the starboard paddle-wheel box and destroyed the hurricane deck
While hugging the shore of Inchicore a very dangerous part
We ran a top of a lump of coal that wasn't marked on the chart
To save ourselves from sinking and to save each precious life
We hove the main deck overboard including the captain's wife
Then all became confusion while the stormy winds did blow
The Boson slipped on an orange peel and fell into the hold below
The Captain cried "'Tis a pirate's brig and on us she does gain!"
When next I sail for Clondalkin, boys, be japers I'll go by train!"
Chorus
So we got our ammunition out to meet the coming foe
Our cutlasses and boarding pikes and Gatling guns also
"Put on full speed," the Captain cried, "for we are sorely pressed"
But the engineer replied from the bank, "Sure the horse is doing his best!"
O, thick and fast the heroes fell, in torrents blood was spilt
Great numbers were falling before they were hit, to make sure they wouldn't be kilt
And at last when the pirate surrendered her flag, the crew being all on their backs
We found that she was a sister ship, with a cargo of cobbler's wax
The ship is in the marine stores now, the crew in the county jail
And I'm the only survivor left to tell the terrible tale
But if I could release that ship, I'd sail her off afar
And Admiral be of the blooming fleet on the fighting Calibar
Chorus
CURRAGH OF KILDARE
The winter it is past and the summer's come at last
And the birds they are singing in the trees
Their little hearts are glad but mine is very sad
For my true love is far away from me
The rose upon the briar by the water running free
Gives joy to the linnet and the bee
Their little hearts are blessed but mine is not at rest
For my true love is absent from me
A livery I'll wear and I'll comb back my hair
In velvet so green I will appear
Chorus:
And it's straight I will repair to the Curragh of Kildare
For it's there I'll find tidings of my dear
All you who are in love and cannot it remove
I pity the pain that you may endure
For experience lets me know that your hearts are full of woe
And a woe that no mortal can endure
Chorus