Favorite Irish drinking songs

[Proletariat]

C'mon, cough them up.

My birthday is St Patrick's day, and I feel like I should get an early start on compiling a good list of Irish anthems, arias, chorales etc for next year.

Any decent drinking song will do, but preferably Irish. And something to listen to while getting sloshed, pie-eyed, ****faced, inebriated, twisted, hammered, rip roaring, and so on.

(Tribesman? Taffy? Drunken Bostonians? I'm looking at you here for a bit of help.)

[edyzmedieval]

Ah good.

Now I'll know what I'll play for my birthday. Come on people. I wanna find out.

[King Henry V]

Well the only one I know of is the Wild Rover.

I've been a wild rover for many a year
And I spent all my money on whiskey and beer,
And now I'm returning with gold in great store
And I never will play the wild rover no more.

Chorus:
And it's no, nay, never,(bang fist on table several times in unison)
No nay never no more,
Will I play the wild rover
No never no more.

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

Chorus:

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."

Chorus:

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 ofttimes before
Sure I never will play the wild rover no more

[Ser Clegane]

"Seven Drunken Nights"

BKS, let me know if you consider the lyrics of the last part to be too explicit - in this case I will remove that part

As I went home on Monday night as drunk as drunk could be
I saw a horse outside the door where my old horse should be
Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me
Who owns that horse outside the door where my old horse should be?

Ah, you're drunk,
you're drunk you silly old fool,
still you can not see
That's a lovely sow that me mother sent to me
Well, it's many a day I've travelled a hundred miles or more
But a saddle on a sow sure I never saw before

And as I went home on Tuesday night as drunk as drunk could be
I saw a coat behind the door where my old coat should be
Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me
Who owns that coat behind the door where my old coat should be

Ah, you're drunk,
you're drunk you silly old fool,
still you can not see
That's a woollen blanket that me mother sent to me
Well, it's many a day I've travelled a hundred miles or more
But buttons in a blanket sure I never saw before

And as I went home on Wednesday night as drunk as drunk could be
I saw a pipe up on the chair where my old pipe should be
Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me
Who owns that pipe up on the chair where my old pipe should be

Ah, you're drunk,
you're drunk you silly old fool,
still you can not see
That's a lovely tin whistle that me mother sent to me
Well, it's many a day I've travelled a hundred miles or more
But tobacco in a tin whistle sure I never saw before

And as I went home on Thursday night as drunk as drunk could be
I saw two boots beneath the bed where my old boots should be
Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me
Who owns them boots beneath the bed where my old boots should be

Ah, you're drunk,
you're drunk you silly old fool,
still you can not see
They're two lovely Geranium pots me mother sent to me
Well, it's many a day I've travelled a hundred miles or more
But laces in Geranium pots I never saw before

And as I went home on Friday night as drunk as drunk could be
I saw a head upon the bed where my old head should be
Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me
Who owns that head upon the bed where my old head should be

Ah, you're drunk,
you're drunk you silly old fool,
still you can not see
That's a baby boy that me mother sent to me
Well, it's many a day I've travelled a hundred miles or more
But a baby boy with his whiskers on sure I never saw before

And as I went home on Saturday night as drunk as drunk could be
I saw two hands upon her breasts where my old hands should be
Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me
Who owns them hands upon your breasts where my old hands should be

Ah, you're drunk,
you're drunk you silly old fool,
still you can not see
That's a lovely night gown that me mother sent to me
Well, it's many a day I've travelled a hundred miles or more
But fingers in a night gown sure I never saw before

As I went home on Sunday night as drunk as drunk could be
I saw a thing in her thing where my old thing should be
Well, I called me wife and I said to her: Will you kindly tell to me
Who owns that thing in your thing where my old thing should be

Ah, you're drunk,
you're drunk you silly old fool,
still you can not see
That's a lovely tin whistle that me mother sent to me
Well, it's many a day I've travelled a hundred miles or more
But hair on a tin whistle sure I never saw before

[Proletariat]

Ah, that's a winner, Ser Clegane. I remember hearing that last St Patty's day at an Irish pub.

Such language from the audience!

[The Blind King of Bohemia]

Jesus there are so many, Seven Drunken Nights and Wild Rover are good but there are a ton more. I've been brought up on them, here is a list you can never to do without, with the majority being recorded by the Dubliners ( With Luke Kelly singing especially), Paddy Reilly or Jim Mccann or the best versions anyroad:

The Fields of Athenry:

By lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl calling
Michael they are taking you away
For you stole Trevaillians corn
So your young might see the morn
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry

Chorus:
Lo lie the Fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry

By lonely prison wall I heard a young man calling
Nothing matters Mary when you're free
Against the famine and the crown
I rebelled, they cut me down
Now you must raise our child with dignity.

Chorus

By lonely harbour wall, she watched the last hour falling
As the prison-ship sailed out against the sky
But she'll live and hope and pray
For a prison ship lies waiting in the Bay
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry

Chorus


McAlpine's Fusiliers:

As down the glen came McAlpine's men with their shovels slung behind them
It was in the pub they drank the sub and up 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 Flynn way down upon the Isle of Grain
With the Horseface Toole I knew the rule, no money if you stop for rain
When McAlpine's god was a well filled hod with your shoulders cut to bits and seared
And woe to he who looks for tea with McAlpine's Fusiliers

I remember the day that the Bear O'Shea fell into a concrete stairs
What the Horseface said, when he saw him dead, well 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, well you must be tough with McAlpine's Fusiliers

I've worked till the sweat near had me bet with Russian, Czech and Pole
On shuddering jams up in the hydro dams or underneath the Thames in a hole
I grafted hard and I've got me cards and many a gangers fist across me ears
If you pride your life, don't join, by Christ, with McAlpine's Fusiliers


Black Velvet Band:


Well, in a neat little town they call Belfast, apprentice to trade I was bound
Many an hours sweet happiness, have I spent in that neat little town
A sad misfortune came over me, which caused me to stray from the land
Far away from my friends and relations, betrayed by the black velvet band

Her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
And her hair it hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band

I took a stroll down Broadway, meaning not long for to stay
When who should I meet but this pretty fair maid comes a tripping along the highway
She was both fair and handsome, her neck it was just like a swans
And her hair it hung over her shoulder, tied up with a black velvet band

Her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
And her hair it hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band

I took a stroll with this pretty fair maid, and a gentleman passing us by
Well I knew she meant the doing of him, by the look in her roguish black eye
A goldwatch she took from his pocket and placed it right in to my hand
And the very first thing that I said was bad luck to the black velvet band

Her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
And her hair it hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band

Before the judge and the jury, next morning I had to appear
The judge he says to me: "Young man, your case it is proven clear
We'll give you seven years penal servitude, to be spent faraway from the land
Far away from your friends and companions, betrayed by the black velvet band"

Her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
And her hair it hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band

So come all you jolly young fellows a warning take by me
When you are out on the town me lads, beware of them pretty colleens
For they feed you with strong drink, "Oh yeah", 'til you are unable to stand
And the very next thing that you'll know is you've landed in Van Diemens Land

Her eyes they shone like diamonds
I thought her the queen of the land
And her hair it hung over her shoulder
Tied up with a black velvet band


Four Green Fields:


What did I have?" said the fine old woman
"What did I have?" this proud old woman did say
"I had four green fields, each one was a jewel
But strangers came and tried to take them from me
I had fine strong sons, they fought to save my jewels
They fought and died, and that was my grief" said she

"Long time ago" said the fine old woman
"Long time ago" this proud old woman did say
"There was war and death, plundering and pillage
My children starved by mountain valley and sea
And their wailing cries, they shook the very heavens
My four green fields ran red with their blood" said she

"What have I now?" said the fine old woman
"What have I now?" this proud old woman did say
"I have four green fields, one of them's in bondage
In stranger's hands, that tried to take it from me
But my sons have sons, as brave as were their fathers
My fourth green field will bloom once again" said she


Finnegan's Wake:

Tim Finnegan lived in Walkin Street, a gentle Irishman mighty odd
He had a brogue both rich and sweet, an' to rise in the world he carried a hod
You see he'd a sort of a tipplers way but the love for the liquor poor Tim was born
To help him on his way each day, he'd a drop of the craythur every morn

Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner around the flure yer trotters shake
Wasn't it the truth I told you? Lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake

One morning Tim got rather full, his head felt heavy which made him shake
Fell from a ladder and he broke his skull, and they carried him home his corpse to wake
Rolled him up in a nice clean sheet, and laid him out upon the bed
A bottle of whiskey at his feet and a barrel of porter at his head

Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner around the flure yer trotters shake
Wasn't it the truth I told you? Lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake

His friends assembled at the wake, and Mrs Finnegan called for lunch
First she brought in tay and cake, then pipes, tobacco and whiskey punch
Biddy O'Brien began to cry, "Such a nice clean corpse, did you ever see,
Tim avourneen, why did you die?", "Will ye hould your gob?" said Paddy McGee

Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner around the flure yer trotters shake
Wasn't it the truth I told you? Lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake

Then Maggie O'Connor took up the job, "Biddy" says she "you're wrong, I'm sure"
Biddy gave her a belt in the gob and left her sprawling on the floor
Then the war did soon engage, t'was woman to woman and man to man
Shillelagh law was all the rage and a row and a ruction soon began

Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner around the flure yer trotters shake
Wasn't it the truth I told you? Lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake

Mickey Maloney ducked his head when a bucket of whiskey flew at him
It missed, and falling on the bed, the liquor scattered over Tim
Bedad he revives, see how he rises, Timothy rising from the bed
Saying "Whittle your whiskey around like blazes, t'underin' Jaysus, do ye think I'm dead?"

Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner around the flure yer trotters shake
Wasn't it the truth I told you? Lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake

Whack fol the dah now dance to yer partner around the flure yer trotters shake
Wasn't it the truth I told you? Lots of fun at Finnegan's Wake


The town I loved so well( a sad song but a great one)


In my memory I will always see
the town that I have loved so well
Where our school played ball by the gasyard wall
and we laughed through the smoke and the smell
Going home in the rain, running up the dark lane
past the jail and down behind the fountain
Those were happy days in so many, many ways
in the town I loved so well

In the early morning the shirt factory horn
called women from Creggan, the Moor and the Bog
While the men on the dole played a mother's role,
fed the children and then trained the dogs
And when times got tough there was just about enough
But they saw it through without complaining
For deep inside was a burning pride
in the town I loved so well

There was music there in the Derry air
like a language that we all could understand
I remember the day when I earned my first pay
And I played in a small pick-up band
There I spent my youth and to tell you the truth
I was sad to leave it all behind me
For I learned about life and I'd found a wife
in the town I loved so well

But when I returned how my eyes have burned
to see how a town could be brought to its knees
By the armoured cars and the bombed out bars
and the gas that hangs on to every tree
Now the army's installed by that old gasyard wall
and the damned barbed wire gets higher and higher
With their tanks and their guns, oh my God, what have they done
to the town I loved so well

Now the music's gone but they carry on
For their spirit's been bruised, never broken
They will not forget but their hearts are set
on tomorrow and peace once again
For what's done is done and what's won is won
and what's lost is lost and gone forever
I can only pray for a bright, brand new day
in the town I loved so well

Whisky in the Jar:


As 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.
Said stand and deliver, for I am a bold deceiver,

musha ring dumma do damma da
whack for the daddy 'ol
whack for the daddy 'ol
there's whiskey in the jar

I counted out his money, and it made a pretty penny.
I put it in my pocket and I took it home to Jenny.
She said 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, all for to take a slumber,
I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure it was no wonder.
But Jenny took my charges and she filled them up with water,
Then sent for captain Farrel to be ready for the slaughter.

It was early in the morning, as I rose up for travel,
The guards were all around me and likewise captain Farrel.
I first produced my pistol, for she stole away my rapier,
But I couldn't shoot the water so a prisoner I was taken.

If anyone can aid me, it's my brother in the army,
If I can find his station down in Cork or in Killarney.
And if he'll come and save me, we'll go roving near Kilkenny,
And I swear he'll treat me better than me darling sportling Jenny

Now some men take delight in the drinking and the roving,
But others take delight in the gambling and the smoking.
But I take delight in the juice of the barley,
And courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early

Dublin the rare ould times:

Ring a-ring a-Rosie, as the light declines, I remember Dublin city in the Rare Ould Times.

Raised on songs and stories, heros of reknown,
The passing tales and glories, that once was Dublin town,
The hallowed halls and houses,the haunting children's rhymes, That once was part of Dublin, in the rare ould times

Chorus

My name it is Sean Dempsey, as Dublin as could be
Born hard and late in Pimlico in a house that ceased to be.
By trade I was a cooper, lost out to redundancy
Like my house that fell to progress, my trade's a memory.
Chorus:

3. And I courted Peggy Diagnan, as pretty as you please,
A rogue and a child of Mary, from the rebel liberties,
I lost her to a student chap, with skin as black as coal,
When he took her off to Birmingham, she took away my soul.
Chorus:

4. Well the years have made me bitter, sure the gargle dimmed my brain,
'Cause Dublin keeps on changing and nothing seems the same.
The Pillar and the Met have gone, the Royal long since pulled down,
As the grey unyielding concrete makes a city of my town.
Chorus:

5. So fare thee well sweet Anna Liffey, I can no longer stay,
And watch the new glass cages that spring up along the Quay,
My mind's too full of memories, to listen to new chimes,
I'm a part of what was Dublin, in the rare ould times.
Chorus:

[Kaiser of Arabia]

No Cure for Cancer, by Dennis Leary
http://www.doctor-evil.com/denis/sounds/irish.mov

I dunno what classifies somthing as a drinking song, mainly, because I drink to ALL irish songs! I also kinda like Finnegans Wake.
http://streamer.soundclick.com/speed...neganswake.mp3

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

All classic Bavarian songs here, lots of them sung at Oktoberfest. I recommend you go to Germany for Oktoberfest, if you have never been.

Ab in den süden

Ohhh, willkommen, willkommen, willkommen Sonnenschein,
wir packen uns're sieben Sachen in den Flieger rein.
Ja, wir kommen, wir kommen, wir kommen, macht euch bereit,
reif für die Insel, Sommer, Sonne, Strand und Zärtlichkeit.
Raus aus'm Regen, ins Leben, ab in den Süden... der Sonne entgegen,
was erleben, einen heben und dann Bikinis erleben. Jetzt kommt es dick man,
ich rette den Tag, ich sag ab geht die Party und die Party geht ab...

Und ich sag...

Hee ab in den Süden, der Sonne hinterher, ehjo was geht,
der Sonne hinterher, ehjo was geht...

Ja ich sag...

Hee ab in den Süden, der Sonne hinterher, ehjo was geht, der Sonne hinterher,
ehjo was geht...

Sommer, Sonne, Sonnenschein, Sommer, Sonne, Sonnenschein, ...

Ohhh, willkommen, willkommen, willkommen Sonnenschein,
den ganzen Tag am Strand ziehn wir uns die Melonen rein.
Ja Tequila, Tequila, Tequila, Wonderbra,
und heute Nacht machen wir noch die ganze Insel klar.
Raus aus'm Regen, ins Leben, ab in den Süden... der Sonne entgegen,
was erleben, einen heben und dann Bikinis erleben. Jetzt kommt es dick man,
ich rette den Tag, ich sag ab geht die Party und die Party geht ab...

Und ich sag...

Hee ab in den Süden, der Sonne hinterher, ehjo was geht, der Sonne hinterher,
ehjo was geht...

Ja ich sag...

Hee ab in den Süden, der Sonne hinterher, ehjo was geht, der Sonne hinterher,
ehjo was geht...

Nananana...

Hee ab in den Süden, der Sonne hinterher, ehjo was geht, der Sonne hinterher,
ehjo was geht...

Ja ich sag...

Hee ab in den Süden, der Sonne hinterher, ehjo was geht, der Sonne hinterher,
ehjo was geht...

Er gehört zu mir

Er gehört zu mir, wie mein Name an der Tür.
Und ich weiß er bleibt hier.
Nie vergeß' ich unseren ersten Tag.
Denn ich fühlte gleich, daß er mich mag.
Ist es wahre Liebe, die nie mehr vergeht?
Oder wird die Liebe vom Winde verweht?
Er gehört zu mir wie mein Name an der Tür
und ich weiß er bleibt hier.
Alles fangen wir gemeinsam an,
doch vergeß' ich nie wie man allein sein kann.
Steht es in den Sternen, was die Zukunft bringt?
Oder muß ich lernen, daß alles zerrinnt.
Er gehört zu mir wie mein Name an der Tür
und ich weiß er bleibt hier.
Nein, ich hab' es ihm nie leicht gemacht.
Mindestens einmal habe ich mich gefragt.
Ist es wahre Liebe, die nie mehr vergeht?
Oder wird die Liebe vom Winde verweht.
Er gehört zu mir für immer zu mir.
Er gehört zu Dir für immer zu Dir.
Er gehört zu mir wie mein Name an der Tür
und ich weiß er bleibt hier.
Er gehört zu mir!


Sorry if they suck, I like some other ones, but I forgot some of the lyrics...

I think I've been in Canada too long.

[JimBob]

I dunno a few good ones by Flogging Molly and Leahy has one but I can't find it.
"Rebels Of The Sacred Heart"

Now I`m aimin' for heaven
But probably wind up down in hell
Where upon this alter I will hang my guilt ridden head
But it`s time I`ll take before I begin
Three sheets to the wind, Three sheets to the wind
Rebels are we, though heavy our hearts shall always be
Ah, no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We`re the rebels of the sacred heart
I said no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We`re the rebels of the sacred heart

Terrified of the open road
Yeah, where it leads ya never know
But rest assured he`ll be on you back
Yeah, the Holy Ghost through his tounges in black
As th band dog howls and the young girl cries
The blessed virgin in her proud dad`s eye
The albatross hangin' round your neck
Is the cross you bare for your sins he bleeds
Rebels are we, though heavy our hearts shall always be
Ah, no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We`re the rebels of the sacred heart

Genuflect all you refugees who fled the land
Now on guilt you kneel
And say a prayer for those left behind
From beyond the pale to the Northern sky
So you saved your shillins and your last six pence
Cause in God`s name they built a barbed wire fence
Be glad you sailed for a better day
But don`t forget there`ll be hell to pay
Rebels are we, though heavy our hearts shall always be
Ah, no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We`re the rebels of the sacred heart
I said no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We`re the rebels of the sacred heart

Reserrection no protection all things life must be
Ah no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We`re the rebels of the sacred heart

Now bless me father for I have sinned
But it`s the same old story again and again and again
Ah well, such is the bread of an everyday life
From mornin' to noon to this shadowless-night
Rebels are we, though heavy our hearts shall always be
Ah, no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We`re the rebels of the sacred heart
I said no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We`re the rebels of the sacred heart

A Pub with no Beer-Slim Dusty
Oh it's-a lonesome away from your kindred and all
By the campfire at night we'll hear the wild dingoes call
But there's-a nothing so lonesome, morbid or drear
Than to stand in the bar of a pub with no beer

Now the publican's anxious for the quota to come
And there's a far away look on the face of the bum
The maid's gone all cranky and the cook's acting queer
Oh what a terrible place is a pub with no beer

Then the stockman rides up with his dry dusty throat
He breasts up to the bar and pulls a wad from his coat
But the smile on his face quickly turns to a sneer
As the barman says sadly the pub's got no beer

Then the swaggie comes in smothered in dust and flies
He throws down his roll and rubs the sweat from his eyes
But when he is told, he says what's this I hear
I've trudged fifty flamin' miles to a pub with no beer

Now there's a dog on the v'randa, for his master he waits
But the boss is inside drinking wine with his mates
He hurries for cover and he cringes in fear
It's no place for a dog 'round a pub with no beer

And old Billy the blacksmith, the first time in his life
Why he's gone home cold sober to his darling wife
He walks in the kitchen, she says you're early Bill dear
But then he breaks down and tells her the pub's got no beer

Oh it's hard to believe that there's customers still
But the money's still tinkling in the old ancient till
The wine buffs are happy and I know they're sincere
When they say they don't care if the pub's got no beer

So it's-a lonesome away from your kindred and all
By the campfire at night we'll hear the wild dingoes call
But there's-a nothing so lonesome, morbid or drear-a

Health to the Company-Traditional
Kind friends and companions, come join me in rhyme
Come lift up your voices in chorus with mine
Let us drink and be merry, all grief to refrain
For we may and might never all meet here again

Here's a health to the company and one to my lass
Let us drink and be merry all out of one glass
Let us drink and be merry, all grief to refrain
For we may and might never all meet here again

Here's a health to the dear lass that I love so well
Her style and her beauty, sure none can excel
There's a smile upon her countenance as she sits on my knee
Sure there's no one in in this wide world as happy as we

Our ship lies at harbor, she's ready to dock
I hope she's safe landed without any shock
If ever we should meet again by land or by sea
I will always remember your kindness to me

[_Martyr_]

Fancy that, my Birthday is on Paddies Day as well! Its officially the best day to be born on, especially as an Irishman!

How about...

Molly Malone

1. In Dublin's fair city,
Where girls are so pretty,
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone,
As she pushed her wheelbarrow
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh"!

Chorus:

Alive, alive oh! alive, alive oh!
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh"!

2. Now she was a fishmonger,
And sure twas no wonder,
For so were her mother and father before,
And they each wheeled their barrow,
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh"!

Chorus:

3. 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"!

Chorus:

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

That's a great song. The only Irish bar song I've heard too...