Maderine Rue

As I was walking o'er the hill, I spied a fox and he's eatin',
Cute little fox is hiddin' in the firs and the tops of his two ears is peepin'.

Good morrow, fox. Good morrow, sir. Pray what is that you're eatin'?
Fine fat goose I stole from you, now wan't you come and taste it?

Oh, no, indeed, bold fox, I said, how dare you boldly taunt me?
I wow and swear that you'll dearly pay for that fine goose you're eatin'.

Bad access to you, you big, bad fox, that stole my geese an' ate them.
Great big cocks, my fine fat hens and the nicest little ducks in Erin.

Maderine rue, rue, rue, rue, maderine rue ta graine,
Maderine rue and is hiddin' in the firs and the tops of his two ears were peepin'.

Marie's wedding

Step we gaily on we go, heel and heel and toe for toe,
Arm and arm and row and row, all for Marie's wedding

Over hillways up and down, myrtle green and bracken brown,
Past the shillings through the town all for the sake of Marie

Red her cheeks as Rowan's are, bright her eyes as any star,
Fairest of them all by far, that's our darlin' Marie

Plenty herring, plenty meal, plenty peat to fill her kreel,
Plenty bonnie bairns as well, that's the toast for Marie

Me, myself and sky

Listen to this story, son, there's somethin' you gotta know
Your spirit got to find for shore are you standin' high or low
Now, listen with the both ears open and don't ask me why
You'll hear why I'm lonely, Just me, myself and sky

I don't need no carriages, the rainbow is my horse
I don't need to think about is it better or it's worse
I don't need no empty rooms, the land's my very bed
With the sheets of green grass growin' and rock upon my head

I got friends, blow ye winds, 'tween the clouds so wild and free
I take a breath to spread my wings and fly accross the sea

So that's the fairytale my boy, sleep tight and try to learn
You got world in hand my son, just don't betray

Mick McGuire

Oh, me name is Mick McGuire and I'll quickly tell to you
Of a young girl I admired called Kate Donahue,
She was fair an' fat an' fourty, believe me when I say,
Whenever I came in at the door I heard her mummy say :
"Johnny get up from fire and give the man a sate,
Don't you see it's old McGuire and he's courtin' your sister Kate.
Oh, you know very well he owns a farm a wee bit out of a town,
Get up of that, you impudent brat and let the Mac sit down".

The first time that I met her was at dance at Termagee,
And I very kindly asked her if she'd dance a step with me.
Then I asked if I could see her home if I'd be goin' her way,
Whenever I came in at the door i heard her mummy say :
"Johnny get up from fire and give the man a sate,
Don't you see it's old McGuire and he's courtin' your sister Kate.
Oh, you know very well he owns a farm a wee bit out of a town,
Get up of that, you impudent brat and let the Mac sit down".

But now that we are married, sure, her mother changed her mind,
Just because I spent the legacy her father left behind.
Now I got a bid of decadency get me time of day,
Whenever I came in at the door I heard her mummy say :
"Johnny, come up to fire, you're sittin' in the draft,
Don't you see it's old McGuire and he nearly drives me daft.
Oh, you know very well he owns a farm a wee bit out of a town,
Just sit where you are and never you dare to give old Mac the chair".

Rare old Mountain Dew

Let grasses grow, and waters flow, in a free and easy way,
But give me enough of the fine old stuff that's made near Galway Bay
Oh peelers all, from Donegal, Galway and Etrim too,
We'll give them the slip and we'll take a sip of the rare old mountain dew

At the foot of the hill there's a neat little still, where the smoke curles up
to the sky,
By the smoke and the smell you can plainly tell that there's whisky brewing
nearby
For it fills the air with odor rare, and betwixt both me and you,
When home you roll you can take a bowl and a bucket full of mountain dew

Now learned men who use the pen, who've wrote your praises high,
This sweet "pocheen" from Ireland's green, distilled from wheat and rye
Throw away your pills, it'll cure all ills of Pagan, Christian and Jew
Take off your and free your throat with the rare old mountain dew

Rocky road to dublin

In the merry month of June from my home I started
Left the girls of Tuam nearly broken hearted
Saluted father dear kissed me darlin' mother
Drank a pint of beer me grief and tears to smother
Then off to reap the corn, leave where I was born
Cut a stout black thorn to banish ghost and goblins
Brand new pair of brogues rattled o'er the bogs
Frightened all the dogs on rocky road to Dublin

Chorus:
One two three four five
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road
And all the way to Dublin whack fol lol de ra

In Mullingar that night I rested limbs so weary
Started by daylight next morning light and airy
Took a drop of the pure to keep my heart from sinking
That's an Irish cure whene'er he's on for drinking
To see the lasses smile, laughing all the while
At my curious style, t'would set your heart a-bubbling
Ax'd if I was hired, wages I required
I was almost tired on rocky road to Dublin

In Dublin next arrived I thought it such a pity
To be so soon deprived a view of that fine city
Then I took a stroll among the quality
Bundle it was stole in a neat locality
Something crossed my mind, then I looked behind
No bundle could I find upon me stick a-wobblin'
Enquiring for the rogue, said me Connaught brogue
Wasn't much in vogue on rocky road to Dublin

From there I got away my spirits never failing
Landed on the quay as the ship was sailing
Captain at me roared, said that no room had he
When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy
Down among the pigs, Played some funny rigs
Danced some hearty jigs, the water round me bubblin'
Off to Holyhead, wished myself was dead
Or better far, instead, on rocky road to Dublin

The boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed
Called myself a fool, I could no longer stand it
Blood began to boil, temper I was losin'
Poor old Erin's isle they began abusin'
"Hurrah me soul" sez I, me shillelagh I let fly
Galway boys were by, saw I was a hobble in
Then with a loud Hurrah, joined in affray
Quickly cleared the way, on rocky road to Dublin

Sail away

Everyday’s question with a big bold question mark
Everything we do I don’t know is it wrong or right
We’re heading for tomorrow with pictures of the past
I’m scared to death of visions I’m getting out of here

Oh, how I like the silence beneath the rising sun
Out of world of vultures who reap the flesh of dumb
No matter what I’m sayin’ there’s no one you can trust
Alone I can’t do anything we’re sinkin’ anyhow

Chorus
Sail away across the seven seas
Where the grass is greener and greener are the trees
Sail with me…
Sail with me…

So I built the world for dreamers just for you and me
You’re the only one to enter the only who can see
That truth is lark in darkness hidden in cross we bear
Together we’re the strongest above the east and west

Salonika

Me husband's in Salonika, I wonder if he's dead,
I wonder if he knows he has a kid with a foxy head?

So right away, so right away,
So right away to Salonika, right away me soldier boy.

Now when the war is over what will the slackers do?
They'll be all around the soldiers for the loan of a bob or two.

Now when the war is over what will the soldiers do?
They'll be walking around with leg and a half and slackers they'll have two.

They taxed our pound of butter, they taxed half penny bun,
But still with all their taxes, they can't bate the bloody hun.

They taxed the Coliseum, they taxed St. Mary's Hall,
Why don't they tax the bobbies with their backs against the wall.

Now when the war is over what will the slackers do?
For every kid in America in Cork there will be two.

They take us out to Blarney and lays us on the grass,
They puts us in the family way and leaves us on our ass.

There's lino on the Parlour and in the kitchen too,
There's a glass back chevonier that we got from Dicky Glue.

Now never marry a soldier, a sailor or a marine,
Now keep you eyes on the Sinn Fein Boy with his yellow, white and green.

Sindidun

I've travelled way to hell and back, the blood of orange made my bill
With heavy cross upon my neck I ran from hands of hangman's will
Yes I've killed I must admit, bombs and guns my friends have been
That's the bid I have to pay, that's my heavy portion of sin

My brother at the age of nine, made first steps alone that night
He was killed for what he saw, in flash his book of life was closed
Sister, she was ten and half, moved from sleep to eternal life
Mum and Dad were burnt to death without a prayer for the dyin' man

In Sindidun I found new life
Found me soul and found new love
In sindidun I found me faith
That gave new hope and gave new strength
Found the way to God

Midlife found me far from home, on the shores of hell in desert of hope
With million other victims of death, hunger, pain and killer's breath
In foggy view I see my home crashed to ground by richman's boots
But torchlight in my soul still shines, we'll rise again from seed and roots

In drunken dreams I see the banks, the streams, the valleys and mounts of god
The land of green, the land of free, where I belong, where I have been
In vengeance for what they did took I play the role I didn't choose
Quiet as a shadow, unseen as a ghost, precise as death I'm doin' my toast

Spanish lady

As I went down through Dublin City at the hour of twelve at night.
Who should I see but a Spanish Lady washing her feet by candle light.
First she washed them, then she dried them o'er the fire of ashy coal.
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet about the sole.
Whack fol the turra lura laddie, whack fol the turra lura lay.

As I went down through Dublin City at the hour of half past eight.
Who should I see but the Spanish lady brushing her hair in the broad daylight.
First she tossed it then she brushed it, on her lap was a silver comb.
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet since I did roam.

As I went down through Dublin City as the sun began to set.
Who should I spy but the Spanish lady catchin' a moth in a golden net.
When she saw me, then she fled me, lifting her petticoat over knee.
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet as the Spanish lady.

I've wandered north, I've wandered south, through Stonybatter and Patrick's close.
Up and around by the Glouster Diamond, back by Napper Tandy's house.
Old age has laid her hand on me cold as a fire of ashy coal.
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet since I did roam.