Did you see our post about Fairytale of New York? We recorded a special version just before Christmas, see the post here Fairytale of New York
David, Maceál, William & Dieb
Fairytale of New York
Tag: ireland
Fairytale of New York – Merry Christmas from Rapalje
Fairytale of New York – Merry Christmas from Rapalje
Fairytale of New York with lyrics played at a special video we recorded for the hardworking employees at UMC Utrecht to support them after this difficult year, we hope to be able to perfom again soon for all our essential workers. Gurgling the tune with whiskey started out as a joke when we first learned this song, if you really can’t play an instrument you can always use the drink, we kept it ever since. We extended the chorus melody at the end because we love playing this part of the song.
Background Info
Fairytale of New York from The Pogues was, again, voted the most popular Christmas song of the UK in 2019. We play it all year round and it’s been one of our most requested songs since we started playing it! “Fairytale of New York” is a song written by Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan and recorded by their band the Pogues, featuring singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl on vocals. The song is an Irish folk-style ballad and was written as a duet, with the Pogues’ singer MacGowan taking the role of the male character and MacColl the female character.
Although there is agreement among the band that “Fairytale of New York” was first written in 1985, the origins of the song are disputed. MacGowan insisted that it arose as a result of a wager made by the Pogues’ producer at the time, Elvis Costello, that the band would not be able to write a Christmas hit single, while the Pogues’ manager Frank Murray has stated that it was originally his idea that the band should try and write a Christmas song as he thought it would be “interesting”.
Banjo player Finer came up with the melody and the original concept for the song, which was set in County Clare on Ireland’s west coast, involving a sailor in New York looking out over the ocean and reminiscing about being back home in Ireland. Finer’s wife Marcia did not like the original seafaring story, and suggested new lyrics regarding a conversation between a couple at Christmas. Finer told NME, “I had written two songs complete with tunes, one had a good tune and crap lyrics, the other had the idea for ‘Fairytale’ but the tune was poxy, I gave them both to Shane and he gave it a Broadway melody, and there it was.
Fairytale of New York – Lyrics
It was Christmas Eve babe
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me, won’t see another one
And then he sang a song
The Rare Old Mountain Dew
I turned my face away
And dreamed about you
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me, won’t see another one
And then he sang a song
The Rare Old Mountain Dew
I turned my face away
And dreamed about you
Got on a lucky one
Came in eighteen to one
I’ve got a feeling
This year’s for me and you
So happy Christmas
I love you baby
I can see a better time
When all our dreams come true
Came in eighteen to one
I’ve got a feeling
This year’s for me and you
So happy Christmas
I love you baby
I can see a better time
When all our dreams come true
They’ve got cars big as bars
They’ve got rivers of gold
But the wind goes right through you
It’s no place for the old
When you first took my hand
On a cold Christmas Eve
You promised me
They’ve got rivers of gold
But the wind goes right through you
It’s no place for the old
When you first took my hand
On a cold Christmas Eve
You promised me
Broadway was waiting for me
You were handsome
You were pretty
Queen of New York City
When the band finished playing
They howled out for more
Sinatra was swinging
All the drunks they were singing
We kissed on a corner
Then danced through the night
You were pretty
Queen of New York City
When the band finished playing
They howled out for more
Sinatra was swinging
All the drunks they were singing
We kissed on a corner
Then danced through the night
The boys of the NYPD choir
Were singing Galway Bay
And the bells were ringing out
For Christmas day
Were singing Galway Bay
And the bells were ringing out
For Christmas day
You’re a bum you’re a punk
You’re an old slut on junk
Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed
You scumbag, you maggot
You cheap lousy faggot
Happy Christmas your arse
I pray God it’s our last
You’re an old slut on junk
Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed
You scumbag, you maggot
You cheap lousy faggot
Happy Christmas your arse
I pray God it’s our last
The boys of the NYPD choir
Still singing Galway Bay
And the bells are ringing out
For Christmas day
Still singing Galway Bay
And the bells are ringing out
For Christmas day
I could have been someone
Well so could anyone
You took my dreams from me
When I first found youI kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can’t make it all alone
I’ve built my dreams around you
Well so could anyone
You took my dreams from me
When I first found youI kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can’t make it all alone
I’ve built my dreams around you
The boys of the NYPD choir
Still singing Galway Bay
And the bells are ringing out
For Christmas day
Still singing Galway Bay
And the bells are ringing out
For Christmas day
Fairytale of New York is available on our CD Hearts
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The Strayaway Child – O’ceallaigh Irish Pub
The Strayaway Child – O’ceallaigh Irish Pub
We play The Strayaway Child mostly during our theatre shows with our wonderful dancers Rosalie & Madelief, at Zomerfolk we play this song with the bodypaint performance on stage. This video is from when we first presented our new CD Scotland’s Story in O’ceallaigh Irish Pub. Dieb plays all our difficult songs perfectly and never gets confused, this song is the one exception, it has six violin parts and for some reason Dieb has a hard time keeping them apart, luckily we are always there to help him =)
Background info
This classic 6 part jig was first recorded by the late Michael Gorman (1895-1970), a county Sligo fiddler who spent much of his adult life in the London area. The tune was popularized in the late 1970s by Kevin Burke and The Bothy Band. The Chieftains (one of our favourite bands) have recorded this song on their album A Chieftains Celebration.
The Strayaway Child
This amazing tune has no lyrics but here we have the sheet music so you can try playing The Strayaway Child for yourself.
Scotland’s Story is available on CD and Vinyl
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Molly Malone – Still into Folk
Molly Malone – Still into Folk
Molly Malone or Cockles and Mussels played in our theatre show Still into Folk, this is a fan favourite everytime we get to play this song the reaction in the crowd is wonderfull. Sadly our friend Andrea, founder of the German Fanclub passed away last year, this was her favourite song, we have some wonderful memories of playing this song for her and she would make us new socks after the show.
Background info
“Molly Malone” (also known as “Cockles and Mussels” or “In Dublin’s Fair City”) is a popular song set in Dublin, Ireland, which has become its unofficial anthem. A statue representing Molly Malone was unveiled on Grafton Street during the 1988 Dublin Millennium celebrations, when 13 June was declared to be Molly Malone Day. In July 2014, the statue was relocated to Suffolk Street.
Molly Malone with Lyrics
In Dublin’s fair city
where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheeled her wheel-barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh”
“Alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh”
Crying “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh”
She was a fishmonger
And sure ’twas no wonder
For so were her father and mother before
And they each wheeled their barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh”
“Alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh”
Crying “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh”
She died of a fever
And no one could save her
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone
Now her ghost wheels her barrow
Through streets broad and narrow
Crying, “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh”
“Alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh”
Crying “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh”
“Alive, alive, oh
Alive, alive, oh”
Crying “Cockles and mussels, alive, alive, oh”
Molly Malone is available on our CD Into Folk
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The Craic was 90 in the Isle of Man – Zomerfolk
The Craic was 90 in the Isle of Man – Zomerfolk
This is a special version of The Craic was 90 in the Isle of Man, we play at our own Zomerfolk Festival, it is late on saturday night and David decides to bring out all the balloons we have backstage and crowdsurf with the inflatable unicorn. You can hear Maceál laugh during the track, great memories for us, and a great song!
Background info – The Craic was 90 in the Isle of Man
The important word in this song is of course Craic, or the Craic. The word has an unusual history; the Scots and English crack was borrowed into Irish as craic in the mid-20th century and the Irish spelling was then reborrowed into English. Craic or crack is a term for news, gossip, fun, entertainment, and enjoyable conversation, the term has great cultural significance in Ireland.we often use it as a memory of a good time, do you remember that one night out – Yeah, the craic was 90!
Lyrics – The Craic was 90 in the Isle of Man
1
Weren’t we the rare oul’ stock? Spent the evenin’ gettin’ locked
In the Ace of Hearts where the high stools were engaging,
Over the Butt Bridge, down by the dock
The boat she sailed at five o’clock
“Hurry, boys,” said Whack, or before we’re there we’ll all be back
Carry him if you can The Crack was Ninety in the Isle of Man.
2
Before we reached the Alexander Base; The ding dong we did surely raise
In the bar of the ship we had great sport, as the boat she sailed out of the port
Landed up in the Douglas Head enquired for a vacant bed.
The dining room we soon got shown by a decent woman up the road.
‘Lads, ate it if you can, The Crack was Ninety in the Isle of Man.
3
Next morning we went for a ramble round; Viewed the sights of Douglas Town
Then we went tor a mighty session, in a pub they call Dick Darby’s.
We must have been drunk by half-past three; To sober up we went swimmin’ in the sea
Back to the digs for the spruce up, and while waitin’ for the fry
We all drew up our plan; The Crack was Ninety in the Isle of Man.
4
That night we went to the Texas Bar; Came back down by horse and car.
Met Big Jim and all went in to drink some wine in Yate’s.
The Liverpool Judies, it was said, were all to be found in the Douglas Head
McShane was there in his suit and shirt, Them foreign girls he was tryin’ to flirt
Sayin’ “Here girls, I’m your man,” The Crack was Ninety in the Isle of Man.
5
Whacker fancied his good looks; On an Isle of Man woman he was struck.
But a Liverpool lad was by her side. And he throwin’the jar into her.’
Whacker thought he’d take a chance; He asked the quare one out to dance.
Around the floor they stepped it out, And to Whack it was no bother.
Everythin’ was goin’ to plan; The Crack was Ninety in the Isle of Man.
6
The Isle of Man woman fancied Whack; Your man stood there till his mates came back
Whack! they all whacked into Whack, and Whack was whacked out on his back.
The police 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, The Crack was Ninety in the Isle of Man.
The Craic was 90 in the Isle of Man is available on our CD Alesia
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Video: We perform at ‘Kultur auf den Halligen’, Hallig Langeneß – Rapalje Show #32
Welcome to another Rapalje Show!
We’re going to open a present again and we take you to a very special event called ‘Kultur auf den Halligen’ on an island that’s not an island. Continue reading “Video: We perform at ‘Kultur auf den Halligen’, Hallig Langeneß – Rapalje Show #32”
Video: How to play Dunmore Lassies on low D whistle – Rapalje Show 25
Welcome to the 25th Rapalje Show! And we had another celebration: The 10.000th subscriber here on this YouTube channel.
Continue reading “Video: How to play Dunmore Lassies on low D whistle – Rapalje Show 25”
Video: Raggle Taggle Gypsy @ Bevrijdingsfestival Overijssel, Zwolle NL
“The Raggle Taggle Gypsy” is a traditional celtic folk music song that originated as a Scottish border ballad,
and has been popular throughout Britain,Ireland and North America. It concerns a rich lady who runs off to join the gypsies (or one gypsy). Common alternative names are “The Raggle Taggle Gypsies O”,”The Gypsy Laddie(s)”,”Black Jack David” (or “Davy”) and “Seven Yellow Gypsies”. (Wikipedia) We first heard the song from Mike Scott from The Waterboys with Sharon Shannon
More Videos from this Festival
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