The Four Irish Folk Songs

Introduction

I saw this meme and thought I wonder if I can categorise Irish Folk Songs using these five headings, maybe two songs in each category. I know that this may not fit with the various Folk purists but I will share it in various Facebook Folk Groups and see what reactions I get.

The Pogues, Horslips and The Dubliners are bound to feature heavily but I will try and expand a little further than those bands.

I Had Too Much To Drink Last Night And Regret Nothing

The Dubliners - "Seven Drunken Nights"

A lot of excuses on returning home drunk, and very funny they are.

The Dubliners celebrate their 25th Anniversary with a special TV show in 1987. The Dubliners: Ronnie Drew, Barney McKenna, John Sheahan, Sean Cannon & Eamonn Campbell. The song reached number 7 in the UK charts in 1967 and appeared on Top of the Pops, thanks to its diffusion on Radio Caroline. Although it was banned from the Irish national broadcasting station, the song also charted at No.1 in Ireland

One of my favourite songs but I have chosen Thin Lizzy's take on this folk song for the other song in this section. The song is Roud 533.

One of the most recognisable rock songs of the 70s, started out with Phil Lynott messing around in Thin Lizzy’s rehearsal studio, as he started busking the old Irish folk song ‘Whiskey In The Jar’, which dates back to the 1700s. Their then manager remarked upon it and insisted that the band recorded, against their gut instincts. The single was released in November 1972 and rose to number 6 on the UK singles chart. However, the song didn’t sit well with the band, and despite its success, they left it off their forthcoming album.

A more traditional version

The Irish Rovers - "Whiskey In The Jar"

I Met A Fair Bonny Lass And She Was Bonny And Fair

Van Morrison and The Chieftains - "My Lagan Love" from "Irish Heartbeat"

This is a beautiful song from two Irish Legends and is a great example for this category of Irish Folk Song. There is more information about the song here and is Roud 1418:

If you want to know more about the Roud index, check my article here which contains a great one-hour talk from Steven Roud:

Anne Briggs - "She Moved Through The Fair"

A beautiful song sung unaccompanied by Anne Briggs. This has been covered by many artists, but I chose this one for its pure unadulterated beauty.

Sharon Shannon, Mundy & Galway City - "Galway Girl"

I always thought this was a traditional Irish folk song, but it was written by the brilliant American artist Steve Earle and recorded with Sharon Shannon for his album "Transcendental Blues" This is a brilliant live version, but not an Irish folk song, so I included it anyway.

We Will Fight The British Forever And Ever And Ever And Ever And

"Go on Home British Soldiers"

I don't know who this is by but the sentiments are extremely clear.

Irish Descendants - "Come Out Ye' Black And Tans"

The "Black and Tans" were a notorious nickname for British recruits, primarily ex-soldiers, who were brought into the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) during the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) to suppress the Irish Republican Army (IRA).

The full lyrics are on the video link but here is the chorus:

Come out you black and tans,

Come out and fight me like a man,

Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders;

Tell her how the IRA made you run like hell away,

From the green and lovely lanes of Killeshandra.

I Have Left Ireland And I Will Never Be Happy Again

The Pogues - "Thousands Are Sailing" from "If I Should Fall From Grace With God"

An absolute beauty from the pen of Shane MacGowan about the Irish who left for a better life in America when it welcomed immigrants.

This was my tribute to Shane MacGowan:

Nick Kehoe - "The Parting Glass"

There is a full story in the Video link but this is the introduction.

The Parting Glass gives the true meaning of an Irish goodbye, after a life well lived. It's one of the top ten favourite folk songs in Ireland according to an RTÉ poll.

It’s been popular in Ireland since at least the 18th century, and it’s not hard to see why. The beautifully moving melody is matched by wonderful bitter-sweet lyrics to create a true masterpiece of a song.

Those Fucking Faeries

Arany Zoltán - King Of The Fairies

A line from the comments although this is an instrumental the title slips it in here:

"There is a certain beast that doesn’t live in snow

Nor mountain lands nor jungle vales nor in the sea you know

He wanders thriving grasslands and travels rolling plains

And is known by the Tauren as the great kodo"

Horslips - "Dearg Doom" from "The Tain"

"Dearg Doom" translates roughly to "Red Destroyer" and is a reference to the Irish mythical warrior Cúchulainn, meaning "Hound of Ulster".

One of their most popular songs and a great way to close this playlist.

Thank you for reading and hopefully enjoying the music too.