What...

We try to make our repertory as varied as celtic/Irish music can be. So we play the traditional ballads, hornpipes, reels and jigs. We're heavily influenced by The Chieftains, Arcady, Altan, The Pogues and The Waterboys, among others...

Here's a as-complete-as-possible list of the songs we play. Click on the name of the song for the lyrics (unless it's instrumental, of course! :-) ) and in the harp icon to listen to it (demo CD version):

Fire animation in our UNIR Bar concert

I'll Tell Me Ma Look At the Coffin Star of County Down The Foggy Dew/Greensleaves

Sally Gardens Raggle Taggle Gipsies/Lannigan's Ball She Moved Through the Fair

Banks of the Lee The Leaving of Liverpool

Danny Boy Dirty Old Town The Irish Rover Molly Malone

The German Clockwinder The Wild Rover I'm a Man You Don't Meet Everyday

Whiskey in the Jar A Man is in Love

Home Boys Home The Boys of Bluehill Farmanagh Highland

The Green Mountain Apples in Winter

McKay Sailor's Hornpipe Over the Moor to Maggie

The Maid of Mount Cisco Joe Cant's Reel/Tie the Bonnet Karla With a K

Polka d'Ours Reilly's Reel Fiddling Ladies

I'll tell me ma when I go home
The boys won't leave the girls alone
They pulled my hair, they stole my comb
Well, that's allright, 'till I go home.
She is handsome, she is pretty,
She's the belle of Belfast City.
She's a courting, one two three.
Please, won't you tell me who is she!?

Albert Mooney says he loves her
All the boys are fighting for her
They knock at the door and they ring at the bell
Saying, "Oh, my true love, are you well?"
Out she comes, as white as snow
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes
Old John Murray says she'll dye
If she doesn't get the fellow with the roving eye.

Let the wind and the rain and the hail blow high
The snow come tumbling from the sky
She's as nice as apple pie
She'll get her own lad by and by
When she gets a lad of her own
She won't tell her ma when she goes home
Let them all come as they will
For it's Albert Mooney she loves still!

Look at the coffin with it's golden handles
Isn't it grand, boys, to be bloody well dead?
Let's not have a sniffle, let's have a bloody good cry
And always remember, the longer you live
The sooner you bloody well die.

Look at the flowers, all bloody withered
Isn't it grand, boys, to be bloody well dead?
Let's not have a sniffle, let's have a bloody good cry
And always remember, the longer you live
The sooner you bloody well die.

Look at the morners, bloody great hipocrits
Isn't it grand, boys, to be bloody well dead?
Let's not have a sniffle, let's have a bloody good cry
And always remember, the longer you live
The sooner you bloody well die.

Look at the preacher, bloody sanctimonious
Isn't it grand, boys, to be bloody well dead?
Let's not have a sniffle, let's have a bloody good cry
And always remember, the longer you live
The sooner you bloody well die.

Near Bambridge Town, in the County Down, one morning last July
Down a boreen green came a sweet collen and she smile as she passed me by
She looked so sweet, from her two bare feet to the sheen of her nut brown hair
Such a coaxing elf, sure I shook myself for to see I was really there
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quai and from Galway to Dublin Town
No maid I've seen like the brown coleen that I met in the County Down

As she onward sped, sure I scratched my head and I looked with a feeling rare
As I said, said I, to a passer-by, "Who's the maid with the nut brown hair?"
He smiled at me and he said, said he, "That's the gem of Ireland crown!
Young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann, she's the star of the County Down!"
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quai and from Galway to Dublin Town
No maid I've seen like the brown coleen that I met in the County Down

At the harvest fair, she'll be surely there, so I'll dress in my Sunday clothes
With my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked right, for a smile from my nut-brown rose
No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke, 'till my plough from a rust coloured brown
'Till a smiling bride by my own fireside sits the star of the County Down
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quai and from Galway to Dublin Town
No maid I've seen like the brown coleen that I met in the County Down.

'Twas down the glen one Easter morn
To a city fair rode I.
When Ireland's line of marching men
In squadrons passed me by.
No pipe did hum, no battle drum
Did sound its loud tattoo
But the Angelus bell o'er the Liffey's swell
Rang out in the foggy dew.

Right proudly high over Dublin town
They hung out a flag of war.
'Twas better to die 'neath an Irish sky
Than at Suvla or Sud el Bar.
And from the plains of Royal Meath
Strong men came hurrying through;
While Brittania's sons with their long-range guns
Sailed in from the foggy dew.

The bravest fell, and the requiem bell
Rang mournfully and clear
For those who died that Eastertide
In the springing of the year.
And the world did gaze in deep amaze
At those fearless men and true
Who bore the fight that freedom's light
Might shine through the foggy dew.

And to and fro in my dreams I go
And I kneel and pray for you.
Oh, those who bled for glorious dead
When you fell in the foggy dew.
Down the glen, I rode again
And my heart with grief was sore
For I parted then with those valiant men
Whom I never shall see more.
And to and fro in my dreams I go
And I kneel and pray for you.
Oh, those who bled for glorious dead
When you fell in the foggy dew.

A German clockwinder to Dublin once came
Benjamin Fooks was the old german's name
And as he was winding he's way round the strand
He played on his flute and the music was grand.

Singing: Toor-a-lum-a-lum-a Toor-a-lum-a-lum-a Toor-a-lai-ei
Toor-a-lai Yur-a-lai Yur-a-lai-ei
Toor-a-lum-a-lum-a Toor-a-lum-a-lum-a Toor-a-lai-ei
Toor-a-lai Yur-a-lai Yur-a-lai-ei

Now there was a young lady from Grosvenor Square
Who said that her clock was in need of repair
In walks the bold german and to her delight
In less than five minutes he had her clock right

Now as they were seated down on the floor
There came this very loud knock on the door
In walks her husband and great was is shock
For to see the old german wind up his wife's clock

The husband said he, "Now look here, Mary Ann!
Don't let that bold german come in here again!"
He wound up your clock and left mine in the shelf
If your old clock needs winding, sure I'll wind it myself!"

Fare thee well to you, my own true love
I am going far, far away
I am bound for California-ay
And I know that I'll return some day

So fare thee well, my own true love
For when I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But, my darling, when I think of thee

I have sailed on a yankee sailing ship
Davy Crockett is her name
And her captain's name was Burgess
And they say that she's a floating hell

Oh, the sun is on the harbour, love
And I wish I could remain
For I know it will be a long, long time
Before I see you again

I've been a wild rover for many the years
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

And it's no, nay, never
No, nay, never, no more
Will I play the wild rover
Nay, never, no more

I went to an ale house I used to frequent
And told the landlady my money was spent
I asked her for credit, she answered me, "Nay,
Such a customer as yours I could have any day."

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."

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'll never will play the wild rover no more

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 roses dying
'Tis you, 'tis you, must go and I must bide

But come ye back, when summer is in the meadow
Or when the valley's ushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be there, in sunshine or in shadow
Oh, Danny Boy, oh Danny Boy, I love you so!

In Dublin's fair city where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
She willed a will barrow, through streets broad and narrow
Crying, "Cockels and mussels, alive, alive-o!"

She was a fishmonger, but sure 'twas no wonder
For so was her father and mother before
And they both willed their barrow, through streets broad and narrow
Crying, "Cockels and mussels, alive, alive-o!"

She died of a fever, no one could releave her
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone
But her ghost wills her barrow, through streets broad and narrow
Crying, "Cockels and mussels, alive, alive-o!"

It's was down by the Sally Gardens
My love and I did meet
She passed the Sally Gardens
With little snow white feet

She bid me, "Take life easy
As the leaves grow on the trees..."
But I was young and foolish
And with her did not agree

In a field down by the river
My love and I did stand
And on my leaning shoulder
She laid her snow white hand

She bid me, "Take love easy
As the grass grows on the weirs..."
But I was young and foolish
And now am full of tears

I met my love by the gas works wall
Dreamed a dream by the old canal
Kissed a girl by the factory wall
Dirty old town
Dirty old town

Clouds a drifting across the moon
Cats a prowling on their beat
Spring's a girl in the street at night
Dirty old town
Dirty old town

Heard a siren from the docks
Saw a train set the night on fire
Smelled the spring on the smoky wind
Dirty old town
Dirty old town

I'm going to make me a good sharp axe
Shining steel tempered in the fire
Will chop you down like an old dead tree
Dirty old town
Dirty old town

Oh, my name is Jock Stuart, I'm a canny gun man
And a roving young fellow I've been
So be easy and free, when you're drinking with me
I'm a man you don't meet everyday

I have acrees of land, I have men at command
I have always a shilling to spare
So be easy and free, when you're drinking with me
I'm a man you don't meet everyday

So come fill up your glasses with brandy and wine
Wherever it costs, I will pay
So be easy and free, when you're drinking with me
I'm a man you don't meet everyday

Well, I took out my dog and him I did shoot
All down in the County Kildare
So be easy and free, when you're drinking with me
I'm a man you don't meet everyday

When I was going over the far famed Kerry Mountains
I met with Captain Farrell and his money he was counting
I first produced my pistol and then produced my rapier
Saying, "Stand and deliver, for you are my bold deceiver!"

Whack for the diddle-day
Whack for the diddle-o
Whack for the diddle-o
There's whiskey in the jar

I counted on me money and it made a pretty penny
I put it in me pocket and gave it to me Jenny
She sighed and she swore that she never would deceive me
But the devil take the women, for they never can be easy

I went into my chamber for to take a slumber
I dreamt of golden jewels, but sure it was no wonder
For Jenny took my charges and filled them up with water
And sent for Captain Farrell to be ready for the slaughter

It was early in the morning before I rose to travel
The guards were all around me and likewise, Captain Farrell
I then produced my pistol for she stole away my rapier
But I couldn't shoot the water, so a prisioner I was taken

If anyone can aid it's my brother in the army
I think that he is stationed in Cork or in Killarney
And if he come and join me, we go roving in Kilkeney
I swear he'll treat me fairer than my darling sporting Jenny

In the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred and six
We set sail from the fair cove of Cork.
We were bound far away with a cargo of bricks
For the fine city hall of New York.

In a very fine craft, she was rigged fore-and-aft
And oh, how the wild winds drove her.
She had twenty-three masts and withstood several blasts
And we called her the Irish Rover.

There was Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee,
There was Hogan from County Tyrone.
And a chap called McGurk who was scared stiff of work
And a chap from West Meade called Mellone.

There was Slugger O'Toole who was drunk as a rule
And fighting Bill Casey from Dover.
There was Dooley from Claire who was strong as a bear
And was skipper of the Irish Rover.

We had one million bales of old billy goats' tails,
We had two million buckets of stones.
We had three million sides of old blind horses hides,
We had four million packets of bones.

We had five million hogs, we had six million dogs,
And seven million barrels of porter.
We had eight million bags of the best Sligo rags
In the hold of the Irish Rover.

We had sailed seven years when the measles broke out
And the ship lost her way in a fog.
And the whole of the crew was reduced unto two,
'Twas myself and the captain's old dog.

Then the ship struck a rock with a terrible shock
And then she heeled right over,
Turned nine times around, and the poor dog was drowned--
I'm the last of the Irish Rover.

There were three gipsies came to my hall door
And down stairs ran this lady-o
There were one sang high and the other sang low
And the other sang "Bonnie, Bonnie, Biscay-o"!

They sang so sweet, they sang so shrill
That fast her tears began to flow
And she laid down her silken gown
Her golden ring and all her show

She plucked off her high heeled shoes
A-made of spanish leather-o
And she went to the street in her bare, bare feet
All out in the wind and weather-o

O-saddle to me my milk white steed
And go and fetch my poney-o
That I may ride and seek my bride
Who is gone with the raggle taggle gipsies

And he rode high and he rode low
He rode east and he rode west
Until he came to an open field
And there he spied his lady-o

What made you live your house and land?
Your golden treasures for to go
What made you live your new wedded lord
To follow the raggle taggle gipsies-o?

What care I for my house and land?
What care I for my treasure-o?
What care I for my new wedded lord?
I'm off with the raggle taggle gipsies-o!

What made you live your goose feather bed
With sheets turned down so bravely-o?
Tonight you'll sleep in a cold open field
Along with the raggle taggle gipsies-o?

What care I for my goose feather bed
With sheets turned down so bravely-o?
Tonight I'll sleep in a cold open field
Along with the raggle taggle gipsies-o!

Oh, when I was a young boy sure I longed to see the world
To sail around the see in ships and see the sails unfurled
I went to seek my fortune on the far side of the hill
I've wondered far and wide and of travel I've had my fill

And it's home boys home
Home I long to be
Home for a while in the old country
Where the oak and the ash and the bonny rowan tree
Are all growing greener in the old country

Well I've left my home behind me and I've sailed across the tide
I said that I'd be back again and take her for my bride
But many years have passed and gone and still I'm far away
I know she is a fond true-love and waiting for the day

Now I've learned there's more to life than to wonder and to roam
Happiness and peace of mind can best be found at home
'Cause money can't buy happiness and money cannot bind
So I'm going back tomorrow to the girl I left behind

When two lovers meet down
Besides the green bower
When two lovers meet down
Beneath the green tree
When Mary fond Mary
Declared to her lover
"You have stolen my poor heart
From the Banks of the Lee."

I love you very dearly
So true and sincerely
There is no one in this wide world
I love better than she.
Every bush, every bower
Every sweet Irish flower
Reminds me of my Mary
From the Banks of the Lee.

A man is in Love
how do I know?
He came a walk with me
and he told me so
in a song he sang
and then I knew
a man is in love
with you.

A man is in love
how did I hear?
I heard him talk too much
whenever you're near
He whispered your name
when his eyes where close
A man is in love
and he knows.

A man is in love
how did I guess?
I figured it out while he was
watching you dress
He'd give you his all
if you'd but agree
A man is love
and he's me.

My young love said to me, "My mother won't mind
And my father won't slight you for your lack of kind"
And she stepped away from me and this she did say:
It will not be long, love, till our wedding day"

As she stepped away from me and she moved through the fair
And fondly I watched her move here and move there
And then she turned homeward with one star awake
Like the swan in the evening moves over the lake.

Last night she came to me, my dead love came in
So softly she entered her feet made no din
As she laid close beside me and this she did say
"It will not be long, love, 'til our wedding day"