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With All Due Respect - The Irish Sessions

Music | Lyrics

from Keith:

Here are the lyrics to the songs on our new album. Or should I say, here is what I sang!! You can never be quite sure with songs like these if you are getting it dead right. I learned these songs over many years and lots of people have interpreted them in their own way. I'm sure I have taken some liberties but it wasn't on purpose and I know the integrity and meaning of the songs has not been changed.

Now you can sing along....

Follow Me Up to Carlow
If I Should Fall from Grace with God
I'll Tell Me Ma
Weila Waila
Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
McAlpine's Fusiliers
Ashley Falls
The Foggy Dew
A Pair of Brown Eyes
The Leaving of Liverpool
Rocky Road to Dublin
Raglan Road
Auld Triangle

Follow Me Up to Carlow | top of page

-- Traditional

If MacCahir orog your face
Brooding o'er the old disgrace
Then FitzWilliam stormed your place,
Sent you to the Fern
Grey said victory was sure
Soon the firebrand he'd secure;
Until he met at Glenmalure
With Fiach MacHugh O'Byrne.

Curse and swear Lord Kildare,
Fiach will do what Fiach will dare
Old FitzWilliam, have a care
Fallen is your starlow.
Up with halberd out with sword
On we go for by the lord
Fiach MacHugh has given the word,
Follow me up to Carlow.

From Tassagart to Clonmore,
There flows a stream of Saxon gore
Oh is Rory Oge O'More,
At sending loons to Hades.
White is sick and Grey is fled,
Now for black FitzWilliam's head
We'll send it over, dripping red,
For Liza and her ladies.

See the swords of Glen Imayle,
They flash all o'er the English pale
See all the children of the Gael,
Beneath O'Byrne's banner
Rooster of the fighting stock,
Would you let a Saxon cock
Crow out upon an Irish rock,
Fly up and we'll teach ye manners.

If I Should Fall from Grace with God | top of page

-- S. McGowan

If I should fall from grace with God
Where no doctor can relieve me
If I'm buried 'neath the sod
But the angels won't receive me

Let me go boys
Let me go boys
Let me go down in the mud
Where the rivers all run dry

This land was always ours
Was the proud land of our fathers
It belongs to us and them
Not to any of the others

Let them go boys
Let them go boys
Let them go down in the mud
Where the rivers all run dry

Bury me at sea
Where no murdered ghost can haunt me
If I rock upon the waves
No corpse can lie upon me

It's coming up three boys
Keeps coming up three boys
Let them go down in the mud
Where the rivers all run dry

If I should fall from grace with God
Where no doctor can relieve me
If I'm buried 'neath the sod
And still the angels won't receive me

Let me go boys
Let me go boys
Let me go down in the mud
Where the rivers all run dry

I'll Tell Me Ma | top of page

-- Traditional

I'll tell me Ma when I go home
The boys won't leave the girls alone
They pull my hair, they stole my comb
but that's alright till I go home

Chorus:
She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the belle of Dublin city
She is courtin' 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 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
Oul Jenny Morrisey says she'll die
If she doesn't get the fella with the roving eye

She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the belle of Dublin city
She is courtin' one, two, three
Please won't you tell me, who is she

Let the wind and the rain and the hail blow high
and the snow come tumblin' from the sky
She's as sweet as apple pie
And 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

She is handsome, she is pretty
She is the belle of Dublin city
She is courtin' one, two, three
Please won't you tell me, who is she

[Repeat]

Weila Waila | top of page

-- Traditional

And there was an old woman and who lived in the woods
A weila weila waila
There was an old woman and she lived in the woods
Down by the River Saile

She had a baby three months old
A weila weila waila
She had a baby three months old
Down by the River Saile

She had a penknife long and sharp
A weila weila waila
She had a penknife long and sharp
Down by the River Saile

She stuck the penknife in the baby`s heart
A weila weila waila
She stuck the penknife in the baby`s heart
Down by the River Saile

Three loud knocks came knocking on the door
A weila weila waila
Three loud knocks came knocking on the door
Down by the River Saile

"Are you the woman who killed the child"
A weila weila waila
"Are you the woman who killed the child"
Down by the River Saile

"Yes I'm the woman who killed the child"
A weila weila waila
"Yes I'm the woman who killed the child"
Down by the River Saile

The rope was swung and she was hung
A weila weila waila
The rope was swung and she was hung
Down by the River Saile

And that was the end of the woman in the woods
A weila weila waila
That was the end of the woman in the woods
Down by the River

Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore | top of page

-- Traditional

And fare-thee-well, to Ireland, the land of my native home
It breaks my heart for to see friends part, for then the teardrops fall
I'm on my way to Amerikay,
will I ever see home once more
For I'm leaving behind the one I love
on Paddy's green shamrock shore.

The ship she lies in anchor, standing by the quay
May fortune bright shine down each night, as we sail out over the sea
Many ships have been lost, many lives it cost
on the journey that lies before
With a tear in my eye I'm bidding good-bye
to Paddy's Green shamrock shore

So fare thee well my own true love, I'll think of you night and day
And a place in my mind you surely will find, although I am far away
Though I'll be alone far away from my home
I'll think of the good times once more
Until the day I can make my way back to
Paddy's green shamrock shore

And now the ship is on the wave may heaven protect us all
With the wind in our sail well we surely can't fail
on the voyage to Baltimore
my parents and friends they did wave till the end
till I could see them no more
then took a chance, took one last glance
at Paddy's green shamrock

McAlpine's Fusiliers | top of page

-- D. Behan

As down the glen came McAlpine's men
With their shovels slung behind them
'Twas in the pub they drank the sub
And out in the spike you'll find them
They sweated blood and they washed down mud
With pints and quarts of beer
And now we're on the road again
With McAlpine's fusiliers

I stripped to the skin with the Darky Finn
Way down on the Isle of Grain
With the Horseface Toole I knew the rule
No money if you stopped for rain
McAlpine's God is a well-filled hod
Your shoulders cut to bits and seared
And woe to he went to look for tea
With McAlpine's fusiliers

I remember Mthe day that the Bear O'Shea
Fell into a concrete stairs
What the Horseface said when he saw him dead
It wasn't what the rich call prayers
I'm a navvy short, was the one retort
That reached unto my ears
When the going is rough you must be tough
With McAlpine's fusiliers

I've worked till the sweat it has had me beat
With Russian, Czech, and Pole
On shuttering jams up in the hydro-dams
Or underneath the Thames in a hole
I've grafted hard and I've got my cards
And many a ganger's fist across my ears
If you pride your life don't join, by Christ
With McAlpine's fusiliers

Ashley Falls | top of page

-- K. Roberts / P. O'Toole

[INSTRUMENTAL]

The Foggy Dew | top of page

-- Traditional

TWAS DOWN THE GLEN ONE EASTER MORN TO A CITY FAIR RODE I
THOSE ARMOURED LINES OF MARCHING MEN
IN SQUADRONS PASSED ME BY
NO PIPE DID HUM , NO BATTLE DRUM DID SOUND ITS DREAD TATOO
BUT THE ANGELAS BELLS O'ER THE LIFFEY SWELL
RANG OUT O'ER THE FOGGY DEW

RIGHT PROUDLY HIGH OVER DUBLIN TOWN
THEY HUNG OUT THE FLAG OF WAR
TWAS BETTER TO DIE NEATH AN IRISH SKY
THEN AT SUVLA OR SUD EL BAR
AND FROM THE PLAINS OF ROYAL MEATH
STRONG MAN CAME HURRYING THROUGH
WHILE BRITANNIAS HUNS WITH THEIR LONG RANGE GUNS
SAILED OUT O'RE THE FOGGY DEW

TWAS ENGLAND BADE OUR WILD GEESE FLY
THAT SMALL NATIONS MIGHT BE FREE
BUT THEIR LONELY GRAVES ARE BY SUVAS WAVES
ON THE FRINGE OF THE GREAT NORTH SEA
OH HAD THEY DIED BY PEARCES SIDE
OR FOUGHT WITH CATHAL BRUGH
THEIR NAMES WE WOULD KEEP
WHERE THE FENIANS SLEEP
NEATH THE SHROWD OF THE FOGGY DEW

BUT THE BRAVEST FELL AS THE REQUEIM BELL
RANG MORNFULLY AND CLEAR
FOR THOSE WHO DIED THAT EASTER TIDE
IN THE SPRING TIME OF THE YEAR
AND THE WORLD DID GAZE WITH DEEP AMAZE
AT THOSE FEARLESS MEN BUT FEW
WHO BORE THE FIGHT SO THAT FREEDOMS LIGHT
MIGHT SHINE THROUGH THE FOGGY DEW

WHO BORE THE FIGHT SO THAT FREEDOMS LIGHT
MIGHT SHINE THROUGH THE FOGGY DEW

A Pair of Brown Eyes | top of page

-- S. McGowan

One summer evening drunk to hell I stood there nearly lifeless
An old man in the corner sang Where the water lilies grow
And on the jukebox Johnny sang About a thing called love
And it's how are you kid and what's your name And how would you bloody know

In blood and death 'neath a screaming sky I lay down on the ground
And the arms and legs of other men Were scattered all around
Some cursed, some prayed, some prayed then cursed
Then prayed and bled some more
And the only thing that I could see
Was a pair of brown eyes that was looking at me
But when we got back, labeled parts one to three
There was no pair of brown eyes waiting for me
And a rovin' a rovin' a rovin' I'll go For a pair of brown eyes

I looked at him he looked at me All I could do was hate him
While Ray and Philomena sang Of my elusive dream
I saw the streams, the rolling hills Where his brown eyes were waiting
And I thought about a pair of brown eyes That waited once for me

So drunk to hell I left the place Sometimes crawling sometimes walking
A hungry sound came across the breeze So I gave the walls a talking
And I heard the sounds of long ago From the old canal
And the birds were whistling in the trees Where the wind was gently laughing
And a rovin' a rovin' a rovin' I'll go For a pair of brown eyes

The Leaving of Liverpool | top of page

-- Traditional

FARE THEE WELL TO PRINCES LANDING STAGE
MERSEY RIVER FARE THEE WELL
I AM BOUND FOR CALIFORNIA
A PLACE THAT I KNOW RIGHT WELL

CHORUS:
SO FARE THEE WELL MY OWN TRUE LOVE
WHEN I RETURN UNITED WE WILL BE
ITS NOT THE LEAVING OF LIVERPOOL THAT GRIEVES ME
BUT MY DARLIN WHEN I THINK OF THEE

I AM BOARDING A YANKEE SAILING SHIP
DAVEY CROCKET IS HER NAME
AND BURGESS IS THE CAPTAIN OF HER
AND THEY SAY THAT SHE'S A FLOATIN HELL

SO FARE THEE WELL MY OWN TRUE LOVE
WHEN I RETURN UNITED WE WILL BE
ITS NOT THE LEAVING OF LIVERPOOL THAT GRIEVES ME
BUT MY DARLIN WHEN I THINK OF THEE

THE SHIP IS IN 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

Rocky Road to Dublin | top of page

-- Traditional

In the merry month of May, out from me home I started,
Left the girls of Tuam, Nearly broken hearted,
Saluted father dear, Kissed my darlin' mother,
Drank a pint of beer, grief and tears to smother,
Off to reap the corn, leave where I was born,
cut a stout blackthorn, To banish ghost and goblin,
brand new pair of brogues, rattled o'er the bogs,
Frightened all the dogs, On the rocky road to Dublin.

One, two, three, four, five,
Hunt the hare and turn her
Down the rocky road
And all the ways to Dublin,
Whack-for-al-de-a.

In Mullingar that night, rested limbs so weary,
Started by daylight, Next mornin' bright and early,
Took a drop of the pure, keep my heart from sinkin',
That's the Paddys cure, Whene'er he's on for drinking.
see the lasses smile, Laughing all the while,
At me darlin style, set your heart a throbbin.
Enquirin bout me pay, wage if I required,
Till I was nearly tired, Of the rocky road to Dublin.

In Dublin next arrived, thought it such a pity,
To be so soon deprived, view of that fine city.
Decided to take a stroll, All among the quality,
bundle it was stole, In that neat locality;
Something crossed my mind, Then I looked behind;
No bundle could I find, Upon my stick a wobblin'.
Enquirin' after the rogue, Said my Connacht brogue,
Wasn't much in vogue, On the rocky road to Dublin.

Went upon me way, spirits never failin'
Landed on the quay As the ship was sailin';
Captain at me roared, Said no room had he,
Then I jumped aboard, room found for Paddy,
Down amongst the pigs, did some hearty rigs,
Danced some hearty jigs, The water round us bubblin',
Then off Holyhead, wished that I was dead,
Or better off instead, On the rocky road to Dublin.

The boys of Liverpool, When we safely landed,
Called myself a fool, could no longer stand it;
Blood began to boil, Temper I was losin',
When ould Erin's isle, They began abusin',
"Hurrah for a," says I, Let me shillelagh fly;
Galway boys were by, knew I was a hobblin,
with a loud hurray, joined in the affray.
Soon we cleared the way, For the rocky road to Dublin.

Raglan Road | top of page

-- P. Kavanagh

On Raglan Road on an autumn day
I met her first and knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare
that I might one day rue
I saw the danger, and I passed
along the enchanted way
And I said, let grief be a fallen leaf
at the dawning of the day

On Grafton Street in November
we tripped lightly along the ledge
Of the deep ravine where can be seen
the worth of passion's pledge
The Queen of Hearts still making tarts
and I not making hay
O I loved too much and by such by such
is happiness thrown away

I gave her gifts of the mind I gave her the secret sign
that's known To the artists who have known
the true gods of sound and stone
And word and tint. without stint
I gave her poems to say
With her own name there and her own dark hair
like clouds over fields of May

On a quiet street where old ghosts meet
I see her walking now
Away from me so hurriedly
my reason must allow
That I had loved not as I should
a creature made of clay
When the angel woos
the clay he'd lose
his wings at the dawn of day

When the angel woos
the clay he'd lose
his wings at the dawn of day

Auld Triangle | top of page

-- B. Behan

A hungry feeling
Came o'er me stealing
And the mice were squealing
In my prison cell
And that auld triangle went jingle-jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

To begin the morning
The screw was bawling
"Get up ya bowsy And clean out your cell!"
And that auld triangle went jingle jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

Now the screw was peeping
As the lag lay sleeping
Dreaming about his girl Sal
And that auld triangle went jingle-jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

Up in the female prison
There are seventy five women
And among them now I wish I did dwell
Then that auld triangle could go jingle jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

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