The Irish Rover

“The Irish Rover” is an Irish folk song about an improbably, sailing ship which reaches an unfortunate end. The song describes “a gigantic twenty-seven masted ship with a colourful crew and varied types of cargo in enormous amounts.” Each verse builds from the previous verses, making the ship more extravagant and wonderous than the last Read More

Whiskey in the Jar-O

Whiskey in the Jar-O is a traditional Irish song set in the southern mountains of Ireland. The song is a traditional Irish and Scottish song. The song usually takes place in various Irish locales, especially Kerry, Cork and Lilmoganny.  Some performers use other locales, especially those in America. The song tells the story of a Read More

The Galway Girl

In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day let’s take a look at a popular Irish song. The Galway Girl was written by Steve Earle.  Earle is actually an American, but wrote the song while living in Ireland. The story is semi-autobiographical and tells the story of the singer’s reaction as he meets a  “beautiful black haired Read More

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling: Is It Really An Irish Song?

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! When I go to the nursing homes to do music this time of year the most requested song is When Irish Eyes Are Smiling. I was suprised to learn that it was not a song from the country of Ireland. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling is a tribute to Ireland. The Read More

Danny Boy, A Song With Many Meanings

With St. Patrick’s Day approaching I thought it would be a good idea to take a look at some of our favorite Irish Songs. The ballad, Danny Boy, is one of the first songs that come to mind when speaking of Irish Songs. The words were written by Frederick Weatherly, a lawyer and lyricist. Weatherly Read More