geese25 Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 This charity song book includes an eclectic mix of songs sung over the last 25 years (1992-2016) by members of the band and their friends in numerous bars throughout Ireland and beyond... Long may they be sung ...And ‘long may they run...... all songs are copyright of their respective owners Published 2016 Page: CONTENTS Page: CONTENTS

4 A brief history of the Wild Geese 5 Charities supported by the sale of this song book

Song: Chosen by / for: Song: Chosen by / for: 6 Absent friends Norman Wylie 40 Liberty’s sweet shore Rob Watkins 7 Across the great divide Lindsay Leonard 41 Motherland Kath Wylie 8 Amarillo Dick Stamp 42 Outlaw Blues Brian Parsons 9 American pie John Baines 43 Paddy & the bricks Brian Wylie 10 Ballad of Bina McLoughlin Justine McGreal Hafferty 44 Paddy lay back David Brown 11 Bang on the ear Mitch France 45 Paddy on the railway Brendan Hafferty 12 Black velvet band Brian Wylie 46 Paradise Mick McLoughlin 13 Carrickfergus Ian McDonald 47 Peaceful easy feeling Peter Moran 14 Dead flowers Rob Watkins 48 Raglan road Paul Copley 15 Dear old Donegal Brian Hafferty 49 Red haired Mary Michael Hafferty 16 Desperados waiting for a train Pat Fadden 50 Riley’s daughter Andrew Jackson 17 Dirty old town Paul Copley 51 Rocky road to Dublin Ciaran Hafferty 18 Down by the sally gardens John Boyle 52 Running bear John Booth 19 Dream a little dream Gillian Gibbons 53 She moved through the fair John Boyle 20 Dublin in the rare ould times Eugene Owens 54 Shoals of herring Peter Bojtos 21 Everybody’s talking Kevin Walsh 55 Something in the way she moves Tim Kelly 22 Fairytale of New York Alexa Copley 56 Sonny’s dream Caroline Hardaker 23 Fiddler’s green John Gorman 57 Southern Man Niamh Molloy 24 Finnegan’s wake Kevin Oates 58 Spancil Hill Mitch France 25 Galway shawl David Marsh 59 Speed of the sound of loneliness Eamon Halloran 26 Girl’s don’t play guitar Laura Shackleton & Anna Watkins 60 Star of the County Down Peter Booth 27 Hallelujah Richard King 61 Tarpaulin jacket David Marsh 28 He was a friend of mine Paul Stokes 62 That’s the way the world goes round Dave Crolla 29 Home away from home Thomas Swift 63 The auld triangle Declan Mahon 30 I hope we’ll meet again Paul Copley 64 The contender John Paul Boyle 31 I hung my head David Moran 65 The Fields of Athenry Vincent Hafferty 32 I used to love her John Baines 66 Thousands are sailing Richard King 33 I’ll tell me ma Toby Meredith 67 When the stars go blue Jimmy Molloy 34 In spite of ourselves Dave Crolla 68 Whiskey on a Sunday Michael Rabbit 35 Irene Dick Stamp 69 Willy McBride Mick Lavelle 36 Isle of hope isle of tears Dave Crolla 70 Writing on the wall John Paul Boyle 37 I’ve waited for you (Say you love me) John Paul Jackson 71 You’ll never be the sun Anne Copley 38 Jambalaya Peter Bojtos 39 Lavender cowboy Geraldine Molloy The Cast... Musicians: John Baines, John Boyle, John Paul Boyle, Paul Copley, Dave Crolla RIP, Mitch France, Eamon Halloran, Richard King, Toby Meredith, Dick Stamp, Rob Watkins, Brian Wylie & Kath Wylie Management: Hugh Best, Peter Bojtos, John Booth, Peter Booth, David Brown, David Marsh & Brendan Hafferty

Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 4 5 A Brief History of the wild geese 1992 - 2016

he Wild Geese is a group of old friends who specialise in an eclectic mixtureT of Irish traditional & modern, folk & country, music and song. Although they had been playing in and around Yorkshire for many years, they first went on tour to Ireland in May 1992 with the first port of call being Matt Molloy’s bar in Westport - where they have played many times every year since.

Following on from this first visit, the Geese have entertained many thousands of people in bars throughout Ireland, east and west. The year 2000 saw our first trip to the USA with gigs in New York and Boston. This was followed in 2002 with a trip further west with sessions in California and Wyoming. The thing that makes the Geese different is the nature of their longstanding personal friendships, no egos, just fun.

This charity song book is an attempt to celebrate 25 years of the music, the friends we’ve made and the great fun we’ve had doing it whilst raising funds for two great charities. Charities Supported by The Wild Geese...

The Margaret Carey Foundation www.margaretcareyfoundation.org.uk While this book is a celebration This charity rescues scrapped bicycles and wheelchairs and organises their of times gone, the saddest part repair and distribution to communities in need, especially in developing is the fact that Dave Crolla is no countries, The reason for choosing this charity is not only because it does longer with us. Other friends fantastic work, but also because it was rescued from oblivion by our friend and who have sadly passed include fellow Goose David Brown – a very fine man. the lovely Geraldine Molloy and her beautiful daughter The Mayo & Roscommon Hospice www.hospice.ie Clare, who welcomed us with Based in Knock County Mayo Ireland, this charity provides tremendous help six creamy pints and smoked to patients and their families during the stressful times associated with terminal illness. salmon on that Saturday afternoon in May 25 years All proceeds from the sale of the Geese 25 song book will be split equally ago, and Kathleen (Bessie) between these two deserving charities. O’Malley our great friend from Clare Island and the incomparable Mick Lavelle, singer and raconteur. May they all Rest in Peace. They will never be forgotten. Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 6 7 Absent Friends Across the Great Divide I’ve been walkin’ in my sleep So raise a glass to absent friends And countin’ troubles ‘stead of countin’ sheep and drink to when we meet again. Where the years went, I can’t say Until that day they’ll always be I just turned around and they’ve gone away just a thought away from you and me And I’ve been siftin’ through the layers Through the day we rush and toil, Of dusty books and faded papers Fortunes rise and fortunes fall. They tell a story I used to know In a world wind spinning round It was one that happened so long ago who knows when we’ll be found It’s gone away in yesterday Beyond those clouds the sun shines on. And I find myself on the mountainside Hard to see when things go wrong, Where the rivers change direction and though the years and miles rush by Across the Great Divide I’ll see you someday when the sun shines high Well, I heard the owl callin’ So raise a glass to absent friends Softly as the night was fallin’ and drink to when we meet again. With a question and I replied Until that day they’ll always be But he’s gone across the borderline just a thought away from you and me He’s gone away in yesterday So raise a glass to absent friends And I find myself on the mountainside and drink to when we meet again, Where the rivers change direction and sing a chorus of old lang sing, Across the Great Divide for absent friends like yours and mine The finest hour that I have seen And sing a chorus of Auld Lang Syne, Is the one that comes between for absent friends like yours... and mine The edge of night and the break of day When the darkness rolls away It’s gone away in yesterday And I find myself on the mountainside Where the rivers change direction Across the Great Divide Absent Friends Across the Great Divide Written by Norman Wylie Written by Kate Wolf. a singer songwriter from It’s gone away in yesterday Kate composed over two Ardglass, Co Down and now And I find myself on the mountainside hundred songs during her based in Westport and a great Where the rivers change direction fifteen-year folk music career. friend of the Geese. Across the Great Divide Chosen by: Lindsay Leonard This song is dedicated to all our absent friends especially Dave Crolla Chosen by: Norman Wylie

Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 8 9 Amarillo American Pie Sha la la lala lalala Sha la la lala lalala A long long time ago I can still remember how that music used to make me smile Sha la la lala lalala And I knew if I had my chance That I could make those people dance And maybe they’d be happy for a while When the day is dawning on a Texas Sunday morning But February made me shiver. With every paper I’d deliver. How I long to be there With Marie who’s waiting for me there Bad news on the doorstep. I couldn’t take one more step I can’t remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride Every lonely city Ha ha ha ha ha Where I hang my hat But something touched me deep inside The day the music died Ha ha ha ha ha Ain’t as half as pretty as where my baby’s at Chorus: Is this the way to Amarillo Every night I’ve been huggin’ my pillow So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie Drove my Chevy to the levee But the levee was dry And Dreaming dreams of Amarillo And sweet Marie who waits for me good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye Singin’ this’ll be the day that I die Show me the way to Amarillo I’ve been weeping like a willow This’ll be the day that I die Crying over Amarillo And sweet Marie who waits for me Did you write the Book of Love And do you have faith in God above Sha la la lala lalala Sha la la lala lalala If the Bible tells you so Sha la la lala lalala Do you believe in rock n’ roll Can music save your mortal soul And Marie who waits for me And can you teach me how to dance real slow Well, I know that you’re in love with him, ‘Cause I saw you dancin’ in the gym You both kicked off your shoes Man, I dig those rhythm & blues There’s a church bell ringing Hear the song of joy that it’s singing I was a lonely, teenage broncin’ buck With a pink carnation and a pickup truck For the sweet Maria and the guy who’s coming to see her But I knew I was out of luck The day the music died I started singin’ Just beyong the highway, there’s an open plain Chorus And it keeps me going through the wind and rain Now for ten years we’ve been on our own And moss grows fat on a rollin’ stone Is this the way to Amarillo But that’s not how it used to be When the Jester sang for the King and Queen Every night I’ve been hugging my pillow In a coat he borrowed from James Dean In a voice that came from you and me Dreaming dreams of Amarillo Oh, and while the King was looking down The Jester stole his thorny crown And sweet Marie who waits for me The courtroom was adjourned No verdict was returned And while Lenin read a book on Marx The quartet practiced in the park And we sang dirges in the dark The day the music died We were singin’ Show me the way to Amarillo Chorus I’ve been weeping like a willow Crying over Amarillo I met a girl who sang the blues And I asked her for some happy news And sweet Marie who waits for me But she just smiled and turned away I went down to the sacred store Where I’d heard the music years before Sha la la lala lalala Sha la la lala lalala But the man there said the music wouldn’t play And in the streets the children screamed Sha la la lala lalala The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed But not a word was spoken And Marie who waits for me The church bells all were broken And the three men I admire most The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost They caught the last train for the coast Repeat x 3 and fade out The day the music died And they were singin’ Chorus x 2

Amarillo A great crowd pleaser written by Howard Greenfield American Pie and Neil Sedaka and made popular by Tony Christy Written by Don McLean – short version... and more recently by Peter Kay (and Dick). Chosen by: John Baines Chosen by: Dick Stamp The man who knows where the notes are... 10 11 Ballad of Bina McLoughlin Bang on the Ear In Merlin Park on that fateful morning, Lindsay was my first love, she was in my class The year of our Lord two thousand and one, I would have loved to take her out but I was too shy to ask Bina McLoughlin went home to her true God, The fullness of my feeling was never made clear Her pain was over and her life’s work done. But I send her my love with a bang on the ear Throughout the West, as the sad news travelled Nora was my girl when I first was in a group A cloud of grief overcame us all. The loss of Bina caused tears and sorrow I can still see her to this day, stirring chicken soup As her deeds and wisdom were lovingly recalled. Now she’s living in Australia, working for an auctioneer But I send her my love with a bang on the ear For Bina McLoughlin, a native of Leenane was larger than life and set out a good stall, Deborah broke my heart and I the willing fool Rich in folklore of people and places, I fell for her one summer on the road to Liverpool Eloquent on radio on creatures great and small. I thought it was forever but it was over in a year, oh dear! But I send her my love with a bang on the ear ‘Twas in The Rock Bar on that memorable occasion, That Dan the street Singer he answered the call The home I made with Bella became a house of pain And joyfully presided over Bina’s coronation, We weathered it together, bound by a ball and chain As Queen of Connemara when she wore the red shawl. It started up in fife and ended up in tears A person for others, she acted with kindness, But I send her my love with a bang on the ear Star of Mid-West Radio where she did enthral, Her gra for animals made her a daughter of Naomh Brighdea, Krista was a rover, from Canada she hailed She had her cures a-plenty at The Bogman’s Ball. We crossed swords in San Francisco, we both lived to tell the tale I don’t know now where she is, oh but if I had her here At Maam Ean Shrine on the Maam Turk Mountains I’d give her my love with a bang on the ear Bina is honoured for her dedication sublime, And her name is inscribed in Cillin Phadraig, So my woman of the hearth fire, harbor of my soul Where she will be remembered for a very long time I watch you lightly sleeping And sense the dream that does unfold, like gold You to me are a treasure, you to me are dear God bless you Bina, you rest in peace now, Thank you sincerely for your knowledge and rhyme, So I’ll give you my love with a bang on the ear Your loyalty and goodwill forever be remembered, From Gleann na Geimleach to the Maam Ean Shrine. I’ll give you my love with a bang on the ear I’ll give you my love with a bang on the ear I’ll give you my love with a bang on the ear

Ballad of Bina McLoughlin Written by Rev. Dr. Micheál McGreal S.J. to revive the memory Bang on the Ear of Bina McLoughlin the Queen of Written by Mike Scott of the Waterboys. Mitch chose this Connemara. song because it brings back happy memories of when he Chosen by: Justine McGreal-Hafferty sang it in the Irish bar An Beal Bocht in South Bronx the night that our ‘financial controller’ left $1,000 in a plastic bag on the floor... Chosen by: Michael (Mitch) France

Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 12 13 Black Velvet Band Carrickfergus In a neat little town they call Belfast But before the Judge and the Jury I wish I was in Carrickfergus Apprentice to trade I was bound Next morning I had to appear Only for nights in Ballygran And the many the hours sweet happiness And the judge he says to me “Young man, I would swim over the deepest ocean, I’ve I spent in that neat little town. your case it is proven and clear The deepest ocean to be by your side. A sad misfortune’s come over me I’ll give you seven years penal servitude Which caused me to stray from the land To be spent far away from the land But the sea is wide; I can’t swim over; Far away from me friends and companions Far away from your friends Neither have I wings to fly. Betrayed by the black velvet band and companions I wish I could find me a handy boatman Betrayed by the black velvet band To ferry me over to my love and I. Chorus: Her eyes they shone like diamonds Chorus These childhood places bring sad reflection, I thought her the queen of the land of happy days spent so long ago. and her hair, it hair hung over her shoulder So come all you jolly young fellows My girlhood friends and my own relations, Held up with a black velvet band A warning take from me Have all passed on like the melting snow and if you go out on the town, me boys, I took a stroll down Broadway Beware of the pretty Colleens, But I’ll spend my days in endless roving Intending not long for to stay When who should I meet They’ll feed you with strong drink,my lads, Soft as the grass and my bed is free; but this pretty fair maid ‘Til you are unable to stand Oh to be home now in Carrickfergus, Come traipsing along the highway And the very first thing that you’ll know On the long road down to the salty sea. is you’ve landed in Van Dieman’s Land She was both fair and handsome And in Kilkenny it is reported Her neck it was white like a swan Chorus On marble stone as black as ink And her hair, hung down With gold and silver he did support me from her shoulders But I’ll sing no more now till I’ve had a drink Held up with a black velvet band And I’m drunk today and rarely sober Chorus As I roll on from town to town I took a stroll with this pretty fair maid Ah but I’m sick now and my days are numbered Met a gentleman as he passed by Come all you young lads and lay me down, sure, I knew she meant the doing of him Come all you young lads and lay me down. By the look in her roguish black eye A gold watch she took from his pocket And placed it right into my hand Carrickfergus The origins of the song are unclear, but it has been traced to And the very first thing that I said was an Irish song, “Do bhí bean uasal” (“There Was a Noble- “What’s this?” to the black velvet band woman”), which is attested to the poet Cathal Buí Mac Giolla Ghunna, who died in 1745. It became known after Chorus actor Peter O’Toole related it to Dominic Behan, who put it in print and made a recording in the mid-1960s. The middle Black Velvet Band verse was allegedly written by Behan. The song was played The original song was apparently written by a farm labourer at the 1999 funeral of John F. Kennedy Jr. Dominic Behan called Harry Cox. Luke Kelly picked it up also wrote: The Patriot Game and McAlpine’s Fusiliers from Ewan MacColl, who had collected it from Harry Cox Chosen by: Ian McDonald Chosen by: Brian Wylie Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 14 15 Dead Flowers Dear Old Donegal Well when you’re sitting there in your silk upholstered chair, It seems like only yesterday, I sailed from out of Cork Talkin’ to some rich folk that you know, A wanderer from Erin’s isle, I landed in New York Well I hope you won’t see me in my ragged company There wasn’t a soul to greet me there, A stranger on your shore Well, you know I could never be alone But Irish luck was with me here, And riches came galore

Chorus: And now that I’m going back again, To dear old Erin’s isle Take me down little Susie, take me down, My friends will meet me on the pier, And greet me with a smile I know you think you’re the queen of the underground Their faces, sure, I’ve almost forgot, I’ve been so long away And you can send me dead flowers every morning, But me mother will introduce them all, And this to me will say... Send me dead flowers by the mail, Send me dead flowers to my wedding, Chorus And I won’t forget to put roses on your grave Shake hands with your Uncle Mike, me boy, And here is your sister, Kate And there’s the girl you used to swing, Down by the garden gate Well when you’re sitting back in your long pink Cadillac Shake hands with all of the neighbours, And kiss the colleens all Making bets on Kentucky Derby Day You’re as welcome as the flowers in May, To dear old Donegal Ah, I’ll be in my basement room with a needle and a spoon And another girl to take my pain away They’ll give a party when I go home, They’ll come from near and far They’ll line the roads for miles and miles, With Irish jauntin’ cars Chorus The spirits’ll flow and we’ll be gay, We’ll fill your hearts with joy The piper’ll play an Irish reel, To greet the Yankee boy Take me down little Susie, take me down, We’ll dance and sing the whole night long, Such fun as never seen I know you think you’re the queen of the underground, The lads’ll be decked in corduroy, The colleens wearin’ green And you can send me dead flowers every morning There’ll be thousands there that I never saw I’ve been so long away Send me dead flowers by the U.S. Mail But me mother will introduce them all, And this to me will say... Say it with dead flowers in my wedding And I won’t forget to put roses on your grave, Chorus No, I won’t forget to put roses on your grave Meet Branigan, Fannigan, Milligan, Gilligan, Duffy, McCuffy, Malachy, Mahone, Hafferty, Lafferty, Donnelly, Connelly, Dooley, O’Hooley, Muldowney, Malone, Madigan, Cadigan, Lanihan, Flanihan, Fagan, O’Hagan, O’Hoolihan, Flynn, Shanihan, Manihan, Fogarty, Hogarty, Kelly, O’Kelly, McGuinness, McGuinn.

Chorus

Dear Old Donegal An Irish folk song popularised by Bing Crosby and written Dead Flowers by Steve Graham Song written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards and a popular song for a packed Sunday Chosen by: Brian Hafferty afternoon session in Matt Molloys pub. Chosen by: Rob Watkins Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 16 17 Desperados Waiting for a Train Dirty Old Town I’d play the Red River Valley, And he’d sit out in the kitchen and cry And run his fingers through seventy years of livin’ I met my love, By the gas works wall. And wonder, “Lord, has ever’ well I’ve drilled run dry?” Dreamed a dream, By the old canal. We were friends, me and this old man I kissed my girl, By the factory wall. Dirty old town, Dirty old town. Like desperados waitin’ for a train, Like desperados waitin’ for a train Clouds are drifting, Across the moon. Cats are prowling, on their beat. He’s a drifter and a driller of oil wells Spring-s-a girl, From the streets at night. And an old school man of the world He let me drive his car When he’s too drunk to Dirty old town, Dirty old town. And he’d wink and give me money for the girls And our lives were like some old western movie I heard a siren, From the docks. Saw a train, Set the night on fire. Like desperados waitin’ for a train, Like desperados waitin’ for a train Smelled the spring, On the smoky wind. Dirty old town, Dirty old town. From the time that I could walk he’d take me with him To a bar called the Green Frog Cafe I’m going to make, Me a good sharp axe; There were old men with beer guts and dominos Shining steel, Tempered in,the Fire. Lying ‘bout their lives while they’d played I’ll chop you down, Like an old dead tree. And I was just a kid They all called his “Sidekick” Dirty old town, Dirty old town. Like desperados waitin’ for a train, Like desperados waitin’ for a train I met my love, By the gas works wall. One day I looked up and he’s pushin’ eighty Dreamed a dream, By the old canal. And there’s brown tobacco stains all down his chin I kissed my girl, by the factory wall. To me he’s one of the heroes of this country Dirty old town, Dirty old town. So why’s he all dressed up like them old men Drinkin’ beer and playin’ Moon and Forty-two Like desperados waitin’ for a train, Like desperados waitin’ for a train A day before he died, I went to see him I was grown and he was almost gone So we just closed our eyes and dreamed us up a kitchen And sang another verse to that old song “Come on, Jack, that son of a guns are comin’ “ Like desperados waitin’ for a train, Like desperados waitin’ for a train Like desperados waitin’ for a train, Like desperados waitin’ for a train Dirty Old Town Written by Ewan McCall about his home Desperados Waiting for a Train town of Salford Written by Guy Clark Chosen by: Paul Copley Chosen by: Pat Fadden Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 18 19 Down by the Sally Gardens Dream a Little Dream of Me Stars shining bright above you It was down by the Sally Gardens, my love and I did meet. Night breezes seem to whisper “I love you” She crossed the Sally Gardens with little snow-white feet. Birds singing in the sycamore trees She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree, Dream a little dream of me But I was young and foolish, and with her did not agree. Say nighty-night and kiss me Just hold me tight and tell me you’ll miss me In a field down by the river, my love and I did stand While I’m alone and blue as can be And on my leaning shoulder, she laid her snow-white hand. Dream a little dream of me She bid me take life easy , as the grass grows on the weirs But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears. Stars fading but I linger on dear Still craving your kiss Down by the Sally Gardens, my love and I did meet. I’m longing to linger till dawn dear Just saying this She crossed the Sally Gardens with little snow-white feet. She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree, Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you But I was young and foolish, and with her did not agree. Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you But in your dreams whatever they be Dream a little dream of me Stars fading but I linger on dear Still craving your kiss I’m longing to linger till dawn dear Just saying this Sweet dreams, till sunbeams find you Gotta keep dreaming leave all worries behind you But in your dreams whatever they be You gotta make me a promise, promise to me You’ll dream, dream a little of me

Down by the Sally Gardens Written as a poem by W B Yeats, and remained that way until 1909 when Herbert Hughes set it to music using the old Irish melody, The Maids of Mourne Shore. It was first published by Yeats in ‘The Wanderings of Oisin and Other Poems’ in 1889. Chosen by John Boyle Dream a Little Dream of Me Written by Gus Kahn, Andre, Fabian & Wilber Schwandt Chosen by: Gillian Gibbons

Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 20 21 Dublin in the Rare Auld Times Everybody’s Talking Raised on songs and stories, heroes of renown The passing tales and glories that once was Dublin Town Everybody’s talking at me The hallowed halls and houses, the haunting children’s rhymes I don’t hear a word they’re saying That once was Dublin City in the rare auld times Only the echoes of my mind Chorus Ring a ring a rosy, as the light declines. People stopping, staring I remember Dublin City in the rare auld times I can’t see their faces Only the shadows of their eyes My name it is Sean Dempsey, as Dublin as can be Born hard and late in Pimlico, in a house that ceased to be I’m going where the sun keeps shining By trade I was a cooper, lost out to redundancy Like my house that fell to progress, my trade’s a memory Through the pouring rain Going where the weather suits my clothes And I courted Peggy Dignam, as pretty as you please A rogue and child of Mary, from the rebel Liberties Banking off of the northeast winds I lost her to a student chap, with skin as black as coal Sailing on a summer breeze When he took her off to Birmingham, she took away my soul Chorus And skipping over the ocean like a stone

The years have made me bitter, the gargle dims me brain I’m going where the sun keeps shining Cause Dublin keeps on changing, and nothing seems the same Through the pouring rain The Pillar and the Met have gone, the Royal long since pulled down Going where the weather suits my clothes As the grey unyielding concrete, makes a city of my town Chorus Banking off of the northeast winds Fare thee well sweet Anna Liffey, I can no longer stay Sailing on a summer breeze And watch the new glass cages, that spring up along the quay And skipping over the ocean like a stone My mind’s too full of memories, too old to hear new chimes I’m part of what was Dublin, in the rare auld times Chorus Everybody’s talking at me Repeat Chorus Can’t hear a word they’re saying Only the echoes of my mind Dublin in the Rare Everybody’s Talking Auld Times I won’t let you leave my love behind Written by Pete St. Written and originally released John, Eugene sang by Fred Neil in 1966. A version No, I won’t let you leave this song with The of the song performed by Harry I won’t let you leave my love behind Geese in Matt Mol- Nilsson became a global success loys Pub in the early in 1969 winning a Grammy ‘90s. It’s been a firm after it was featured on favourite ever since. the soundtrack of the film Chosen by: Eugene Midnight Cowboy. Owens Chosen by: Kevin Walsh

Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 22 23 Fairytale of New York Fiddler’s Green It was Christmas Eve babe You’re a bum As I walked by the dockside one evening so rare In the drunk tank You’re a punk To view the still waters and take the salt air, An old man said to me, You’re an old slut on junk I heard an old fisherman singing this song, won’t see another one Lying there almost dead Oh take me away boys, me time is not long And then he sang a song on a drip in that bed The Rare Old Mountain Dew You scumbag, you maggot Chorus I turned my face away You cheap lousy faggot Wrap me up in me oilskins and jumper, And dreamed about you Happy Christmas your arse No more on the docks I’ll be seen, I pray God it’s our last Just tell me old shipmates I’m takin a trip mates Got on a lucky one nd I’ll see you someday in Fiddler’s Green Came in eighteen to one Chorus I’ve got a feeling Oh in Fiddler’s Green is a place I’ve heard tell, This year’s for me and you I could have been someone where sailormen go if they don’t go to hell. So happy Christmas Well so could anyone Where the weather is fair and the dolphins do play, I love you baby You took my dreams from me and the cold coast of Greenland is far far away I can see a better time When I first found you Chorus When all our dreams come true I kept them with me babe I put them with my own Where the skies are all clear and there’s never a gale They’ve got cars big as bars Can’t make it all alone And the fish jump on board with a swish of their tails They’ve got rivers of gold I’ve built my dreams around you Where you lie at your leisure - there’s no work to do But the wind goes right through you And the skipper’s below making tea for the crew It’s no place for the old Chorus Chorus When you first took my hand On a cold Christmas Eve When you are docked and the long trip is through You promised me Broadway There’s pubs and there’s clubs and there’s lassies there too was waiting for me Where the girls are all pretty and the beer is all free And there’s bottles of rum growin off every tree You were handsome Chorus You were pretty  Queen of New York City Oh I don’t want a harp nor a halo, not me. When the band finished playing Just give me a breeze and a good rollin sea. They howled out for more And I’ll play me auld squeezebox as we sail along, Sinatra was swinging, with the wind in the riggin to sing me this song All the drunks they were singing Fiddler’s Green Chorus Written by a folk singer We kissed on a corner called John Conolly. The Then danced through the night term Fiddler’s Green seems to date from Chorus the 1830’s as a sort of The boys of the NYPD choir nautical equivalent of the Were singing “Galway Bay” Fairytale of New York Elysian Fields. Co written by Jeremy Finer and Shane Chosen by: John Gorman And the bells were ringing out McGowan, this great song was sung many times For Christmas day by Alexa with Dave... Chosen by: Alexa Copley Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 24 25 Finnegan’s Wake Galway Shawl Tim Finnegan lived in watling street, A gentle Irishman, mighty odd In Oranmore in the County Galway, He’d a beautiful brogue so rich and sweet, To rise in the world, he carried a hod. One pleasant evening in the month of May, See, he’d sort of a tipplin’ way, With love for the liquor poor Tim was born I spied a damsel, she was young and handsome To help him on with his work each dayHe’d a drop of the craythur every morn’ Her beauty fairly took my breath away. Chorus Whack fol, de, dah now, dance to your partner Welt the floor, your trotters shake Chorus Wasn’t it the truth, they told ye lots of fun At Finnegan’s wake She wore no jewels, nor costly diamonds, No paint or powder, no, none at all. One morning Tim got rather full, His head felt heavy which made him shake But she wore a bonnet with a ribbon on it. Fell from a ladder and he broke his skull They carried him home, his corpse to wake Rolled him up in a nice clean sheet. And laid him out upon the bed And round her shoulder was a Galway Shawl A gallon of whiskey at his feet, And a bottle of porter at his head Chorus We kept on walking she kept on talking, ‘Till her father’s cottage came into view. His friends assembled at the wake, And misses Finnegan called for lunch Says she: ‘Come in, sir, and meet my father, First she brought in tea and cake, Then pipes, tobacco and whiskey punch Biddy O’Brien began to cry, Such a nice clean corpse, did you ever see? And play to please him “The Foggy Dew.” Tim mavourneen, why did you die?, Arrah, hold your gob, said Patty Megee Chorus Chorus She sat me down beside the fire Then Maggie O’Connor took up the job “Arrah”, biddy says, she ye’re wrong, I’m sure I could see her father, he was six feet tall. Biddy then gave her a belt on the gob And left her sprawling on the floor. There the war did soon engage, Woman to woman and man to man And soon her mother had the kettle singing Shillelah law was all the rage An a row and a ruction soon began All I could think of was the Galway shawl. Chorus Chorus

Then Mickey Maloney raised his head When a bottle of whiskey flew at him I played The Blackbird and The Stack of Barley, It missed him falling on the bed, The liquor scattered over Tim. Tim revives, see how he rises Timothy rising from the bed Rodney’s Glory and The Foggy Dew, Then Whirl your whiskey around, Like blazes Thanum an Dhul, Do ye think I’m dead? She sang each note like an Irish linnet. Chorus While the tears flowed from her eyes so blue. Finnegan’s Wake Chorus A ballad that arose in the 1850s in the music-hall Galway Shawl tradition of comical Irish songs. The song was ‘Twas early, early, all in the morning, A traditional Irish ballad. made popular by the Dubliners The first known version was Chosen by: Kevin Oates When I hit the road for old Donegal. collected by Sam Henry from Bridget Kealey in Dungiven in She said ‘Good by sir, ‘she cried 1936. Our old friend Dave And my heart remains with the Galway Shawl. had an interesting take on this Chorus lovely old song, enhancing the lyrics with mention of a Jaguar bonnet... Chosen by: David Marsh Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 26 27 Girls Don’t Play Guitar Hallelujah You’re clocking off after ten long hours Well I’ve heard there was a secret chord You turn around and see me standing there , You’re feeling tired, you know that it’s gone on too long That David played and it pleased the Lord We can’t go on pretending we don’t care But you don’t really care for music, do you? Well it goes like this:The fourth, the fifth, We have changed our clothes the minor fall and the major lift We have changed our faces We have built a life on what we were taught , The baffled king composing Hallelujah We have changed our friends , They’re all scattered in places. They thrive off telling people when to talk Chorus Hallelujah, Hallelujah We spent too long talking about how we’re gonna do it, Spent too long drinking under stars, Hallelujah, Hallelujah So grab the hand of the person standing next to you Together we can reclaim what is ours Well your faith was strong but you needed proof They demonstrate what we should wear You saw her bathing on the roof And the best products for our hair Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya They tell us when our day should start , And when it should end. She tied you to her kitchen chair They suck the life from you. They told you what’s best to do. And she broke your throne and she cut your hair They lied when they said the world was on the mend And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah. You’re clocking off after ten long hours Chorus You turn around and see me standing there, You’re feeling tired, you know that it’s gone on too long. We can’t go on pretending we don’t care But baby I’ve been here before I’ve seen this room and I’ve walked this floor They say Girls don’t play guitar You know, I used to live alone before I knew ya Girls do not fly planes. And I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch Girls wear delicate dresses and dainty shoes, Girls cannot be heroes. Girls cannot be pioneers. And love is not a victory march Girls do not drink beer or walk alone at night, Girls should be afraid It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah. Girls should be protected. They will surely die if they’re left out there alone Chorus Thank God for girls who play guitar Thank God for girls who fly planes Well there was a time when you let me know Thanks God for girls who drink beer and dance in the rain, What’s really going on below Thank God for the ones who work all day, But now you never show that to me do ya Feed their children and tuck them into bed Thank God for the ones who abolish the label, live free instead But remember when I moved in you You’re clocking off after ten long hours And the holy dove was moving too You turn around and see me standing there, Girls Don’t Play Guitar And every breath we drew was Hallelujah. You’re feeling tired, you know that it’s gone on too long Chorus We can’t go on pretending we don’t care Written by Laura Shackleton We have changed our clothes. We have changed our faces. performed by Hallelujah Maybe there’s a God above We have built a life on what we were taught, Waiting for Wednesday Written by Leonard Cohan But all I’ve ever learned from love We have changed our friends. They’re all scattered in places. Chosen by: Chosen by: Richard King They thrive off telling people when to talk Laura Shackleton and A great favourite of Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya! Anna Watkins The Rev Dr. Micheal McGreal SJ And it’s not a cry that you hear at night Now we must walk, It’s not somebody who’s seen the light Now we must walk, It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah Now we must walk Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 28 29 He was a Friend of Mine Home Away from Home He was a friend of mine I didn’t sleep at all last night, I stayed up ‘til the dawn, He was a friend of mine Banging out the jigs and reels ‘til everyone had gone, Every time I think about him now Lord I just can’t keep from cryin’ Singing some old shut-eyed songs, I hadn’t sung for years, Knocking back the brandy and the beer. ‘Cause he was a friend of mine Chorus He died on the road Back across the ocean to my home away from home He died on the road I’m Glad to be returning but sad to have to go He never had enough money I’d like to find a way to be two places at one time To pay his room or board It’s easy going back again but it’s hard to say goodbye And he was a friend of mine I had one bag too many just as I was set to leave I was loaded down with bacon and with sausages and tea I stole away and cried I stole away and cried And I couldn’t find my ticket as I’m walking out the door ‘Til I emptied all my bags out on the floor. ‘Cause I never had too much money Chorus And I never been quite satisfied And he was a friend of mine On board the plane I sip a drink while waiting for the meal, Just trying not to let my head know how my stomach feels. He never done no wrong There’s a baby right behind me making sure that I won’t sleep And the flight’s too full to find another seat. He never done no wrong Chorus A thousand miles from home And he never harmed no one I fell asleep at last just as the plane is touching down And he was a friend of mine And I age ten years just waiting for the bags to come around And I make it home at last and I’m barely un-packed when I’m already making plans to go again. He was a friend of mine Chorus x 2 He was a friend of mine He was a Friend of Mine Dates back to at least the 1934 when John Lomax recorded James “Iron Head” Baker Every time I hear his name singing “Shorty George” at Central State Lord I just can’t keep from cryin’ Prison Farm in Sugar Land, Texas. Lead ‘Cause he was a friend of mine. Belly also recorded “Shorty George” in March, 1935. Bob Dylan was singing a version of the song from late 1961 until the middle of 1962 under the title “He Was a Friend of Mine”

Chosen by: Paul Stokes following the death Home Away from Home of our friend Dave, both Paul and Brendan Made popular by the man from Connemara Sean Keane remembered this old song almost Chosen by: Thomas (Mossie) Swift simultaneously – serendipity? Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 30 31 I Hope We Meet Again I Hung my Head You don’t say that you love him Early one morning with time to kill But it shows in every word I borrowed Jeb’s rifle and sat on the hill When he played his favourite music I saw a lone rider crossing the plain Was the best you’d ever heard I drew a bead on him to practice my aim And you tell me that he couldn’t watch My brother’s rifle went off in my hand The violence cut by men A shot rang out across the land When all is quiet throughout the land I hope you meet again The horse he kept running, the rider was dead I hung my head, I hung my head Chorus I hope you’ll meet again I set off running to wake from the dream I hope you’ll meet again My brother’s rifle went into the stream I hope you’ll meet again I kept on running into the salt lands I hope you’ll meet again And that’s where they found me, my head in my hands The sheriff he asked me “Why had I run” His feelings were as deep for you Then it came to me just what I had done And maybe even more And all for no reason, just one piece of lead Though you probably didn’t show it I hung my head, I hung my head You knew his heart was sure Though he left without a single word It’s better in the end Here in the courthouse, the whole town is there There are no words to say goodbye I see the judge high up in his chair I hope you meet again “Explain to the courtroom what went through your mind Chorus And we’ll ask the jury what verdict they find” I said “I felt the power of death over life I never even met him I orphaned his children I widowed his wife But I know we’d be a pair I beg their forgiveness I wish I was dead” We’d have sat in any pub in town I hung my head, I hung my head And had a good time there But there’s something left between us Stands in both our ways When all these things are sorted out Early one morning with time to kill I hope we’ll meet some day I see the gallows up on the hill Chorus And out in the distance a trick of the brain I see a lone rider crossing the plain You tell me of his interests He’s come to fetch me to see what they done How he loved the sound of trains I Hope We Meet Again I Hung my Head We’ll ride together til Kingdom come Written by Leo Moran of The Saw Written by Sting, Whenever you hear that whistle Doctors, inspired by the tragic made famous by I pray for God’s mercy for soon I’ll be dead It’s calling out his name death of his brother. Paul chose Johnny Cash I hung my head, I hung my head All the lonely years you suffered this song to both remember our Chosen by: Remembering back when friend Dave and a famous night in David Moran The days seemed so much longer Clifden when some members of the I hope you meet again audience added a new phrase to the Chorus Chorus... “Feck### Yuppies” Chosen by: Paul Copley

Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 32 33 I used to Love Her I’ll Tell Me Ma I have fallen for another she can make her own way home Chorus: And even if she asked me now I’d let her go alone I’ll tell me ma, when I get home, the boys won’t leave the girls alone, I useta see her up the chapel when she went to Sunday mass Pulled me hair, stolen me comb, But that’s alright, till I go home And when she’d go to receive I’d kneel down there And watch her pass She is handsome, she is pretty, She is the belle of Dublin city The glory of her ass She is a-courting one, two, three, Pray, can you tell me who is she? Chorus Albert Mooney says he loves her I useta to love her, I useta love her once All the boys are fightin’ for her A long, long time ago Knock at the door, they’re ringin’ the bell I useta to love her, I useta love her once Hello, my true love are you well? A long long time ago It’s gone, all my lovin’ is gone Out she comes white as snow Rings on her fingers, bells on her toes It’s gone, all my lovin’ is gone Ol’ Jenny Murray says she’ll die If she doesn’t get the fellow with the roving eye D’you remember her collecting for Concern on Christmas eve. She was on a forty eight hour fast just water and black tea Let the wind and the rain and the hail blow high. I walked right up and made an ostentatious contribution And the snow come travelin’ through the sky. She’s as sweet as apple pie. And I winked at her to tell her I’d seduce her in the future She’ll get her own right by and by When she’s feelin looser Chorus When she gets a lad of her own I’ll Tell Me Ma She won’t tell her ma when she gets home. First collected in the So now you know the truth of it she’s no longer my obsession Let them all come as they will It’s Albert Mooney she loves still 1800’s this song was made Though the thoughts and dreams I had of her would take six months in confession Chorus famous by the Dubliners See I met this young one Thursday night and she’s inta free expression in the 1960’s and made And her mission is to rid the world of this sinful repression Albert Mooney says he loves her even more famous by our Then we had a session All the boys are fightin’ for her own bodhran playing Knock at the door, they’re ringin’ the bell aficionado, “Hello, me true love are you well?” Toby Meredith It’s gone, long, long gone Chosen by: I have fallen for another and she can make her own way home Out she comes white as snow Toby Meredith Rings on her fingers, bells on her toes Ol’ Jenny Murray says she’ll die If she doesn’t get the fellow with the roving eye Let the wind and the rain and the hail blow high. And the snow come travellin’ through the sky. She’s as sweet as apple pie. She’ll get her own right by and by When she gets a lad of her own She won’t tell her ma when she gets home Let them all come as they will It’s Albert Mooney she loves still Chorus I used to Love Her Written by The Saw Doctors: P.Cunniffe, D.Carton, L.Moran & P.Stevens Chosen by: John Baines Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 34 35 In Spite of Ourselves Irene, Goodnight She don’t like her eggs all runny She thinks crossin’ her legs is funny Irene good night, Irene good night, She looks down her nose at money Good night Irene, good night Irene, She gets it on like the Easter Bunny I’ll see you in my dreams. She’s my baby I’m her honey I’m never gonna let her go Last Saturday night I got married, He ain’t got laid in a month of Sundays Me and my wife settled down, I caught him once and he was sniffin’ my undies Now me and my wife we are parted, He ain’t too sharp but he gets things done I think I’ll go out on the town. Drinks his beer like it’s oxygen He’s my baby, And I’m his honey Never gonna let him go Irene good night, Irene good night, Good night Irene, good night Irene, Chorus: I’ll see you in my dreams. In spite of ourselves We’ll end up a’sittin’ on a rainbow Against all odds Sometimes I live in the country, Honey, we’re the big door prize Sometimes I live in town, We’re gonna spite our noses Sometimes I take a great notion Right off of our faces To jump in the river and drown. There won’t be nothin’ but big old hearts Dancin’ in our eyes. I love Irene, God knows I do, She thinks all my jokes are corny I’ll love her ‘til the seas run dry, Convict movies make her horny But if Irene should turn me down, She likes ketchup on her scrambled eggs I’d take morphine and die. Swears like a sailor when shaves her legs She takes a lickin’ And keeps on tickin’ I’m never gonna let her go. Stop rambling, stop your gambling, Stop staying out late at night, He’s got more balls than a big brass monkey. Go home to your wife and your family, He’s a wacked out weirdo and a love bug junkie, Stay there by your fireside bright. Sly as a fox and crazy as a loon, Payday comes and he’s howlin’ at the moon, In Spite of Ourselves He’s my baby, I don’t mean maybe, Written by John Prine Never gonna let him go Chosen for Dave Crolla RIP Irene, Goodnight another great song that Chorus Is a 20th-century American folk Dave made his own... standard first recorded by blues musician Huddie ‘Lead Belly’ In spite of ourselves... Ledbetter in 1933 Chosen by: Dick Stamp

Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 36 37 Isle of Hope Isle of Tears I’ve Waited As Long As I Can

On the first day of January 1892 I’ve waited for you and I’ve always been true, they opened Ellis Island and they let the people through. But this waiting no longer I can stand. And the first to cross the threshold of that isle of hope and tears, I know you’ve had time, to make up your mind. was Annie Moore from Ireland who was only fifteen years. I’ve waited as long as I can.

Chorus: I’ve waited to hear you say you love me, Isle of hope, isle of tears Isle of freedom, isle of fears, And longed for the day you’d take my hand. but it’s not the isle you left behind. I asked again last night for your love so divine. That isle of hunger, isle of pain, isle you’ll never see again, I’ve waited as long as I can. but the isle of home is always on your mind.  Done all I can do; said all I can say. In a little bag she carried all her past and history, Oh, why can’t I make you understand? and her dreams for the future in the land of liberty. I’ve wanted you for mine but I’ve wasted my time. And courage is the passport when your old world disappears, I’ve waited as long as I can. but there’s no future in the past when you’re fifteen years. Chorus I’ve waited to hear you say you love me, And longed for the day you’d take my hand. When they closed down Ellis Island in nineteen forty-three, I asked again last night for your love so divine. 17 million people had come there for sanctuary. I’ve waited as long as I can. And in springtime when I came here And I stepped onto its piers I thought of how it must have been when you’re only fifteen years. Now I’ll just say goodbye. The tears fall from my eyes, Chorus For you have made it plain that I can’t win. No one will ever know the pain that I’ve been through. I’ve waited as long as I can.

I’ve waited to hear you say you love me, And longed for the day you’d take my hand. I asked again last night for your love so divine. I’ve waited as long as I can. I’ve Waited As Long As I Can (Say you love me) Written by Hylo Brown Isle of Hope Isle of Tears and a big hit for Sharon A song about the first Irish immigrant to Shannon and enter America via the newly opened Ellis Dessie O’Halloran Island in New York. Chosen by: Chosen for: Dave Crolla John Paul Jackson Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 38 39 Jambalaya Lavender Cowboy Good-bye Joe, me gotta go, me oh my oh He was only a lavender cowboy Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou with only three hairs on his chest, My Yvonne, the sweetest one, me oh my oh and he road on a filly called daffydowndilly Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou The prettiest horse in the West Every morning they went out together, Chorus: while the others looked on in dismay, Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and file’ gumbo cause he’d round up the cattle a-ridin side-saddle, ‘Cause tonight I’m gonna see my ma cher amio Because he preferred it that way Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou He was just a lavender cowboy who committed a terrible sin Thibodeaux, Fontainenot, the place is buzzin’ He went on a bender and slugged a bartender Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen And stole all the strawberry gin Dress in style and go hog wild, me oh my oh Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou So the posse was sent out to find him, Chorus And bring him back dead or alive, And they knew as they went they were hot on the scent, Settle down, far from town, get me a pirogue By the smell of Chanel No 5 And I’ll catch all the fish in the bayou Swap my mon to buy Yvonne what she need-o And they found him a-lyin unconscious, Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou. With blood running all down his chin, Chorus Till they looked a bit closer and what do you know, sir, Jambalaya They found it was strawberry gin Written by Hank Williams Chosen by: Peter Bojtos. So they shot the lavender cowboy, Although living in Denver And said as they layed him to rest Peter always turns up You’ll be happier now, boy, you can’t be a cowboy when he gets the call. As the Geese fly west he With only three hairs on your chest flies east to join up with his old friends – and long may his big smile and infectious personality Lavender Cowboy continue to bring joy to Written as a humorous poem by Harold Hersey in 1923. It was everyone he meets... then set to music and appeared in the 1930 Western film Oklahoma Cyclone... Also recorded by Burl Ives Chosen for: Geraldine Molloy RIP this was one of Geraldine’s favourite songs, one she often sang with The Geese and is now sung by her brother Dermot with much aplomb...

Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 40 41 Liberty’s Sweet Shore Motherland In this fading light the mainland Where in the hell can you go Lies vague out on the horizon Far from the things that you know A lighthouse beaming its welcome Far from the sprawl of concrete that keeps crawling its way About a 1,000 miles a day? To Gross Isle and liberty’s sweet shore For three months and a day we’ve been sailing, Take one last look behind Around pinnacles of ice we’ve been steering Commit this to memory and mind Storms and Nor’easters a raging Don’t miss this wasteland, this terrible place To deliver us to liberty’s sweet shore When you leave keep your heart off your sleeve john on this chorus Chorus: Motherland cradle me Chorus: Close my eyes, lullaby me to sleep Sailing to liberty’s sweet shore Keep me safe, lie with me, stay beside me Sailing to liberty’s sweet shore don’t go Don’t you go We left all we know to this new life we’ll go, Oh, my five and dime queen Sailing to liberty’s sweet shore Tell me what have you seen? The lust and the avarice, the bottomless, Two pounds a head for the passage the cavernous greed Is that what you see? With ease our landlord surrendered Chorus And wiped his hands clean as he tendered, It’s your happiness, I want most of all From a distance he watched us all go And for that I’d do anything at all, oh mercy me If you want the best of it or the most of all We sailed on the fifth day of September, If there’s anything I can do at all Two hundred poor souls crammed together, Now come on shot gun bride Liberty’s Sweet Shore From our families and homeland we’re severed What makes me envy your life? Motherland Written by John Doyle The clothes on our backs all we own Faceless, nameless, innocent, blameless and free A beautiful song by and Catherine Peterson Natalie Merchant from Doyle. Another great song What’s that like to be? an album produced in about the problems our We’re bowed down in sickness and hunger, Chorus 2001 and dedicated to forefathers had in escaping We pray for the hand of our maker, the men and women from poverty, intolerance, Motherland cradle me who died in the tragedy perfidious Albion and in My child was lost to a fever, Close my eyes, lullaby me to sleep that was 9/11 in New many cases the actions of A quick prayer then hauled gone over broad York City. their own government... Keep me safe, lie with me, stay beside me Chosen by: Kath Wylie Chosen by: Rob Watkins. Oceans of tears they are falling don’t go Don’t go In hope and despair both recalling Now the gulls of St Lawrence they are calling, Soon Quebec and liberty’s sweet shore. Chorus

Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 42 43 Outlaw Blues Paddy & the Bricks Dear sir I write this note to you to tell me of me plight, Ain’t it hard to stumble And at the time of writing, I am not a pretty sight. And land in some funny lagoon? Me body is all black and blue, me face a deathly gray. Ain’t it hard to stumble And I write this note to say, why Paddy’s not at work today. And land in some muddy lagoon? While working on the fourteenth floor some bricks I had to clear. Especially when it’s nine below zero Now to throw them down from such a height, was not a good idea. And three o’clock in the afternoon The foreman wasn’t very pleased, he being an awkward sod. He said I’d have to carry them down the ladders in me hod. . Ain’t gonna hang no picture Now, clearing all these bricks by hand, it was so very slow. Ain’t gonna hang no picture frame So I hoisted up a barrel, and secured the rope below. But in me haste to do the job, I was too blind to see; Ain’t gonna hang no picture That a barrel full of building bricks was heavier than me. Ain’t gonna hang no picture frame Well, I might look like Robert Ford So when I untied the rope, the barrel fell like lead. And clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead. But I feel just like a Jesse James While I shot up like a rocket, to my dismay I found, That halfway up, I met the bloody barrel coming down. Well, I wish I was on some Australian mountain range Well, the barrel broke my shoulders as to the ground it sped, And when I reached the top, I banged the pulley with me head. Oh, I wish I was on some Well I clung on tight though numb and shock from this almighty blow, Australian mountain range And the barrel spilled out half the bricks fourteen floors below. I got no reason to be there, but I Now, when these bricks had fallen from the barrel to the floor, Imagine it would be some kind of change I then outweighed the barrel, and so started down once more. Still clinging tightly to the rope, I sped towards the ground. I got my dark sunglasses And I landed on the broken bricks that were all scattered ‘round. I got for good luck my black tooth While I lay their groaning on the ground I thought I passed the worst, I got my dark sunglasses When the barrel hit the pulley wheel, and then the bottom burst. I’m carryin’ for good luck my black tooth Well a shower of bricks rained down on me - I hadn’t got a hope. Don’t ask me nothin’ about nothin’ As I lay there moaning on the ground: I let go of the bloody rope. I just might tell you the truth The barrel then being heavier it started down once more, And landed right across me as I lay across the floor. Well it broke three ribs, and my left arm, and I can only say; I got a woman in Jackson That I hope you’ll understand why Paddy’s not at work today I ain’t gonna say her name I got a woman in Jackson I ain’t gonna say her name Outlaw Blues She’s a brown-skin woman, but I Paddy & the Bricks Written by Bob Dylan A funny song written by Pat Cooksey and first sung in the Chosen by: Brian Parsons Love her just the same Dyer’s Arms in Coventry. Its real name is ‘The Sick Note’, from an original joke from Gerard Hoffnung back in the 1950s. Chosen by: Brian Wylie Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 44 45 Paddy Lay Back Paddy on the Railway Twas a cold and dreary morning in December, In eighteen hundred and forty one In eighteen hundred and forty six and all of my money being spent, My corduroy breeches I put on I changed me trade from carrying bricks what day it was I hardly can remember, My corduroy breeches I put on Changed me trade from carrying bricks when down to the Shipping Quay I went... To work upon the railway To working on the railway The railway Chorus Chorus: In eighteen hundred and forty two In eighteen hundred and forty seven Sing Paddy lay back (Paddy lay back) I travelled from Liverpool down to Crew Poor Paddy was thinking of going to Heaven Take in the slack (take in the slack) I travelled from Liverpool down to Crew Poor Paddy was thinking of going to Heaven Take a turn around the capstan heave up all. To work upon the railway To work upon the railway The railway About ship’s stations boys be handy The railway I’m weary of the railway for we’re bound for Valiporazor ’round the Horn I’m weary of the railway Poor Paddy works on the railway Poor Paddy works on the railway Chorus That day there was a great demand for sailors, from colonies, from Frisco and from France. Chorus: I shipped on board a liner named The Hotspur I was wearing Corduroy breeches And got paralytic drunk on my advance. Digging ditches, Pulling switches Chorus Dodging hitchers I was working on the railway In eighteen hundred and forty three Now some of our fellows had been drinking I broke me shuffle across me knee And me meself was heavy on the booze I broke me shuffle across me knee So I sat upon me old sea chest a-thinking While working on the railway I’d turn in and have meself a snooze The railway I’m weary of the railway I woke up in the morning sick and sore, Poor Paddy works on the railway I knew I was outward bound again I hear a voice a-bawling at the door In eighteen hundred and forty four “Lay aft, ye sods, and answer to your names.” I landed on the Liverpool shore Me back was weary me hands were saw With working on the railway Well I wished that I was in the Jolly Sailors The railway Along with Irish Paddys drinking beer, I’m weary of the railway Then I thought of what a jolly lot are sailors Poor Paddy works on the railway And with me flipper I wiped away a tear Chorus Well when we gathered all the tugs alongside In eighteen hundred and forty five They towed us from the wharf and out to sea When Daniel O’Connell he was alive With half the crew a hanging o’er the ship’s side And Daniel O’Connell he was alive And working on the railway Paddy on the Railway The bloody row that started sickened me Paddy Lay Back A traditional song from the days of the A traditional sailors drinking song The railway middle to late 1800’s when Irishmen built with many variations... I’m weary of the railway the railroads throughout Britain, Ireland Chosen by: David Brown in honour Poor Paddy works on the railway and America and made famous by that great of our old friend Dave who sang this Chorus Dubliner Luke Kelly in honour of the only man we knew Chosen by: Brendan Hafferty who had been round The Horn to Valparaiso Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 46 47 Paradise Peaceful Easy Feeling When I was a child my family would travel, I like the way your sparkling earrings Lay Down to Western Kentucky where my parents were born, against your skin so brown and there’s a backwards old town that’s often remembered And I wanna sleep with you in the desert tonight, So many times that my memories are worn. With a billion stars all around Chorus: And daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenberg county Chorus: Down by the green river where paradise lay Cause I got a peaceful easy feeling Well, I’m sorry my son, but you’re too late in asking And I know you won’t let me down Mister Peabody’s coal train has hauled it away Cause I’m already standing on the ground

Well, sometimes we’d travel right down the green river And I found out a long time ago To the abandoned old prison down by Adrie hill What a woman can do to your soul Where the air smelled like snakes and we’d shoot with our pistols Ah, but she can’t take you any way But empty pop bottles was all we would kill. You don’t already know how to go Chorus

Then the coal company came with the world’s largest shovel And I got a peaceful, easy feeling and they tortured the timber and stripped all the land And I know you won’t let me down Well, they dug for their coal till the land was forsaken ‘Cause I’m already standing on the ground Then they wrote it all down as the progress of man. Chorus I get this feeling I may know you As a lover and a friend When I die let my ashes float down the green river But this voice keeps whispering in my other ear Let my soul roll on up to the Rochester dam Tells me I may never see you again I’ll be halfway to heaven with paradise waitin’ Chorus Just five miles away from wherever I am. Chorus

Peaceful Easy Feeling Written by a San Diego songwriter called Jack Tempchin made famous by the Eagles Paradise Chosen by: Peter Moran Written by John Prine Chosen by: Mick McLoughlin Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 48 49 Raglan Road Red Hair Mary On Raglan Road of an autumn day As I was going to the Faire in Dingle, Keep your hands off Red Haired Mary, I saw her first and knew, One fine morning last July, Her and I are to be wed. that her dark hair would weave a snare Walking down the road before me, We’re seein’ the priest this very morning, that I might one day rue; A red-haired girl I chanced to spy. And tonight we’ll lie in the marriage bed.

I saw the danger, and I passed I stepped up to her, says I “Young Lady, Well the red hair girl, she kept a’smiling, along the enchanted way, My donkey, he can carry two.” and I said, let grief be a fallen leaf “Young man, I’ll come with you,” she said. at the dawning of the day. She looked at me, her eyes a-twinkle We’ll forget the priest this very morning, And her cheeks they were a rosy hue. Tonight we’ll lie in Murphy’s shed. On Grafton Street in November we tripped lightly along the ledge “Thank you kindly, sir, “she answered Keep your hands off Red Haired Mary, of the deep ravine where can be seen And then she shook her bright red hair Her and I will soon be wed. the worth of passion’s pledge, “Seeing as how you’ve got your donkey, We’ll forget the priest this very morning, I’ll ride with you to the Dingle Faire.” Tonight we’ll lie in Murphy’s shed. The Queen of Hearts still making tarts and I not making hay But when we reached the faire in Dingle, Oh I loved too much and by such by such I took her hand for to say goodbye. is happiness thrown away. When a tinker man stepped up close beside me, And hit me right in my left eye. I gave her gifts of the mind I gave her the secret sign, that’s known to the artists who have known Keep your hands off Red Haired Mary, the true gods of sound and stone, Her and I are to be wed. We’re seein’ the priest this very morning, And word and tint without stint And tonight we’ll lie in the marriage bed. for I gave her poems to say. With her own name there and her own dark hair Well I was feelin kinda peevish, like clouds over fields of May My poor old eye felt sad and sore, Raglan Road An’ so I tapped him gently with my hobnails Written as a poem by On a quiet street where old ghosts meet Patrick Kavanagh. And he flew back through Tim Murphy’s door. It was made famous by Luke I see her walking now, Kelly after he was given the Away from me so hurriedly Keep your hands off Red Haired Mary, words by Kavanagh my reason must allow Her and I are to be wed. Red Hair Mary in a Dublin pub. Written by Sean McCarthy who also A great favourite of our old That I had loved not as I should We’re seein’ the priest this very morning, wrote Highland Paddy & the Hills Of friend Mick Colgan a creature made of clay And tonight we’ll lie in the marriage bed. Connemara. Sean was born in Listowel Chosen by: Paul Copley Co. Kerry in 1923 When the angel woos the clay he’d lose Chosen by: Michael Hafferty who sang this his wings at the dawn of the day. Now a policeman he came round the corner, song with the Geese on his birthday some Told me I had broke the law. years ago But my donkey kicked him in the ankle, And he fell down and smashed his jaw.

Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 50 51 Reilly’s Daughter Rocky Road to Dublin As I was sitting by the fire While in the merry month of June, from me home I started, Left the girls of Tuam so sad and broken hearted, Eating spuds and drinking porter Saluted father dear, kissed me darling mother, Suddenly a thought came into my mind Drank a pint of beer, me grief and tears to smother Then off to reap the corn, leave where I was born, I’d like to marry old Reilly’s daughter. Cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghosts and goblins, Bought a pair of brogues rattling o’er the bogs And fright’ning all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin Chorus: Giddy i-ae Giddy i-ae Giddy i-ae for the one-eyed Reilly Chorus: One, two, three, four, five, Giddy i-ae (bang bang bang) Play it on your old bass drum. Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road, All the way to Dublin, whack follol de rah Reilly played on the big bass drum In Mullingar that night, I rested limbs so weary, Reilly had a mind for murder and slaughter. Started by daylight, next morning blithe and early, Took a drop of pure, to keep me heart from sinking, Reilly had a bright red glittering eye. That’s a Paddy’s cure, whenever he’s on drinking And he kept that eye on his lovely daughter. To see the lasses smile, laughing all the while, At my curious style, ‘twould set your heart a-bubbling, They ax’d if I was hired, the wages I required, Her hair was black and her eyes were blue. Till I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin. The colonel and the major and the captain sought her. Chorus The sergeant and the private and the drummer boy too In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity But they never had a chance with Reilly’s daughter. To be soon deprived, a view of that fine city So then I took a stroll,, all among the quality Me bundle it was stole, all in a neat locality I got me a ring and a parson too Something crossed me mind, when I looked behind, No bundle could I find, upon me stick a wobblin’, Rocky Road to Dublin Got me a scratch in a married quarter Inquiring for the rogue, they said me Connaught brogue, A fast-paced 19th Settled me down to a peaceful life Wasn’t much in vogue, on the rocky road to Dublin century song about a Chorus man going to Liverpool Happy as a king with Reilly’s daughter. from Tuam in Ireland. From there I got away, me spirits never falling, Written by D.K.Gavan Landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailing, Suddenly a footstep on the stairs Chosen by: The Captain at me roared, said that no room had he Ciarán Hafferty Who should it be but Reilly out for slaughter. When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy Down among the pigs, played some hearty rigs, With two pistols in his hands Danced some hearty jigs, the water round me bubbling, Looking for the man who had married his daughter. When off Holyhead, I wished meself was dead Or better for instead, on the rocky road to Dublin Reilly’s Daughter Chorus I caught old Reilly by the hair Is a cleaned up version Rammed his head in a pail of water of a bawdy Irish Well, the boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed, traditional song. Called meself a fool, I could no longer stand it, Fired his pistols into the air The source is unknown, Blood began to boil, temper I was losing, A damned sight quicker than I married his daughter however one source in poor old Erin’s Isle, they began abusing the Randolph Collection “Hurrah me soul” says I, me Shillelagh I let fly dates from the 1790’s. Some Mayo boys were nigh, and saw I was a hobble in Chosen by: With a load “Hurray”, joined in the affray Andrew Jackson We quietly cleared the way, for the rocky road to Dublin Chorus Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 52 53 Running Bear She Moved Through the Fair

On the bank of the river stood Running Bear, young Indian brave My young love said to me, my mother won’t mind. On the other side of the river stood his lovely Indian maid And my father won´t slight you for your lack of kind, Little White Dove was her name, such a lovely sight to see and she stepped away from me and this she did say, But their tribes fought with each other, so their love could never be It will not be long love till our wedding day.

Chorus: She stepped away from me and she moved through the fair, Running Bear loved Little White Dove and fondly I watched her move here and move there, With a love big as the sky then she went her way homeward with one star awake, Running Bear loved Little White Dove As the swan in the evening moves over the lake. With a love that couldn’t die The people were saying no two were e’er wed, He couldn’t swim the raging river ‘cause the river was too wide but one has a sorrow that never was said, He couldn’t reach the Little White Dove waiting on the other side and I smiled as she passed with her goods and her gear, In the moonlight he could see her throwing kisses ‘cross the waves And that was the last that I saw of my dear. Her little heart was beating faster waiting for her Indian brave I dreamt it last night that my young love came in, Chorus so softly she entered her feet made no din, She came close beside me and this she did say, Running Bear dove in the water, Little White Dove did the same It will not be long love till our wedding day And they swam out to each other through the swirling stream they came As their hands touched and their lips met, the raging river pulled them down Now they’ll always be together in their happy hunting ground

Chorus

She Moved Through the Fair A traditional song reputedly written by Longford poet Padraic Colum and the musicologist Herbert Hughes. In a letter published in the Irish Times (22 April Running Bear 1970) Colum claimed that he was the Written by J.P.Richardson (aka The Big Bopper) author of all but the final verse. Chosen by: John Booth Chosen by: John Boyle Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 54 55 Shoals of Herring Something in the Way She Moves O, it was a fine and a pleasant day There’s something in the way she moves Out of Yarmouth harbour I was faring, Or looks my way, or calls my name as a cabin boy on a sailing lugger That seems to leave this troubled world behind. For to go and hunt the shoals of herring If I’m feeling down and blue Or troubled by some foolish game O, the work was hard and the hours were long She always seems to make me change my mind And the treatment sure it took some bearing There was little kindness and the kicks were many And I feel fine anytime she’s around me now As we hunted for the shoals of herring She’s around me now Almost all the time O, we fished the Swarth and the Broken Bank And if I’m well you can tell she’s been with me now I was a cook and I’d a quarter-sharing She’s been with me now quite a long, long time. And I feel fine And I used to sleep, standing on me feet And I’d dream about the shoals of herring Every now and then the things I lean on lose their meaning And I find myself careening In places where I should not let me go O, we left the home grounds in the month of June She has the power to go where no one else can find me And to canny Shiels we soon was bearing Yes and silently remind me With a hundred cran of the silver darlings The happiness and the good times that I know, That we’d taken from the shoals of herring but as I had got to know them

Now you’re up on deck, you’re a fisherman It isn’t what she’s got to say You can swear and show a manly bearing But how she thinks and where she’s been Take your turn on watch with the other fellows To me, the words are nice, the way they sound While you’re searching for the shoals of herring I like to hear them best that way It doesn’t much matter what they mean What she says them mostly just to calm me down Shoals of Herring In the stormy seas and the living gales Written by Just to earn your daily bread you’re daring Ewan MacColl. Chosen by: Peter Bojtos From the Dover Straits to the Faroe Islands this was an old scout As you’re following the shoals of herring favourite around the camp fire or indeed anywhere we happened O, I earned me keep and I paid me way to be... I’m sure we sang it in Ma O’Keeffe’s in And I earned the gear that I was wearing New Ross in 1966 Sailed a million miles, caught ten-million fishes Something in the Way She Moves We were sailing after shoals of herring Written by James Taylor Chosen by: Tim Kelly

Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 56 57 Sonny’s Dream Southern Man

Sonny lives on a farm, in a wide open space Southern man, better keep your head Take off your shoes, stay out of the race Don’t forget what your good book said Lay down your head, on a soft river bed Southern change’s gonna come at last Sonny always remembers the words Mamma said. Now your crosses are burning fast Southern Man... Chorus: Sonny don’t go away, I’m here all alone I saw cotton and I saw black Your Daddy’s a sailor, never comes home, Tall white mansions and little shacks Nights are so long, silence goes on, Southern man, when will you pay them back? I’m feeling so tired and not all that strong. I heard screamin’ and bullwhips crackin’ How long? How long? Sonny works on the land, though he’s barely a man, there’s not much to do but he does what he can, Southern man, better keep your head sits by his window in his room by the stairs Don’t forget what your good book said watching the waves drifting soft on the pier. Southern change’s gonna come at last Chorus Now your crosses are burning fast Southern Man... Many years have rolled on, Sonny’s old and alone His Daddy the sailor, never came home Lily Belle, your hair is golden brown Sometimes he wonders what his life might have been I’ve seen your black man comin’ round Still from the grave Mamma still haunts his dreams. Swear by God, I’m gonna cut him down Chorus I heard screamin’ and bullwhips crackin’ How long? How long?

Sonny’s Dream Written by Ron Hynes who was a popular folk singer-songwriter from St. John’s Newfoundland where, apparently, all the locals Southern Man talk with a Clare accent! Written by Neil Young Chosen by: Caroline Hardaker who chose this song for Chosen by: Niamh Molloy her grandson who is also called Sonny Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 58 59 Spancil Hill Speed of the Sound of Loneliness Last night as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by You come home late And you come home early Me mind being bent on rambling to Ireland I did fly You come on big When you’re feelin’ small I stepped on board a vision and I followed with a will You come home straight And you home curly Till next I came to anchor at the cross at Spancil Hill Sometimes you don’t come home at all It being on the twenty third of June, the day before the fair, Chorus: When Ireland’s sons and daughters and friends assembled there, So what in the world’s come over you? The young, the old, the brave and the bold, came there, duty to fulfill What in heaven’s name have you done? At the parish church in Clooney, a mile from Spancil Hill You’ve broken the speed of the sound of loneliness You’re out there runnin’ Just to be on the run I went to see me neighbors, to see what they might say The old ones were all dead and gone, the young ones turning gray Well, I got a heart that burns with a fever But I met the tailor Quigley, he’s as bold as ever still And I got a worried and jealous mind Ah, he used to mend me britches when I lived in Spancil Hill Well how can a love That will last forever Get left so far behind? I paid a flying visit to my first and only love, Chorus She’s as white as any lily, gentle as a dove, And she threw her arms around me saying, “Johnny, I love you still” It’s a mighty mean and a dreadful sorrow As she’s Nell the farmer’s daughter and the pride of Spancil Hill Crossed the evil line today How can you asked about tomorrow? I dreamt, I held and kissed her as in the days of yore, We ain’t got one word to say Oh Johnny, you’re only jokin’, as many’s the time before, Chorus The cock, he crew in the morning, he crew both loud and shrill, I awoke in California, many miles from Spancil Hill You’re out there runnin’, just to be on the run You’re out there runnin’, just to be on the run

Spancil Hill The author of Spancil hill was Michael Considine, he was born around 1850 and emigrated to the USA his intention being to earn enough money to bring his sweetheart, Mary MacNamara to America. Michael worked for two years in Boston, before moving to California. Unfortunately his health deteriorated. When he realized he hadn’t long to live he wrote this Speed of the Sound of Loneliness poem in remembrance of his love, he sent it to his Written by John Prine nephew John in Ireland. Michael died in 1873 it is Chosen by: Eamon Halloran said Mary never married. Chosen by: Mitch France Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 60 61 Star of the County Down Tarpaulin Jacket A tall stalwart lancer lay dying, In Banbridge town in the County Down And as on his deathbed he lay, one morning last July, To his friends who around him were sighing, From a boreen green came a sweet colleen These last dying words he did say: And she smiled as she passed me by. She looked so sweet from her two bare feet, Chorus: to the sheen of her nut brown hair. Wrap me up in my tarpaulin jacket Such a coaxing elf, sure I shook myself And say a poor buffer lies low; For to see I was really there. And six stalwart lancers shall carry me With steps solemn, mournful and slow Chorus: From Bantry bay up to Derry quay Had I the wings of a little dove, and From Galway to Dublin town, Far far away would I fly; I’d fly No maid I’ve seen like the brown colleen Straight for the arms of my true love that I met in the County Down And there I would lay me and die. Chorus As she onward sped, sure I scratched my head, And I looked with a feelin’ rare, Then get you two little white tombstones And I say’s, say’s I to a passer-by, Put them one at my head and my toe, my toe, “whose the maid with the nut brown hair”? And get you a penknife and scratch there: Tarpaulin Jacket He smiled at me and he says’s, say’s he, Here lies a poor buffer below. This old song was written by “that’s the gem of Ireland’s crown. Chorus G. J. Whyte-Melville (1821- It’s Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann, 1878). Previously a captain in the Coldstream Guards, She’s the star of the County Down”. And get you six brandies and sodas, when in 1853 the Crimean war broke out he was Star of the County Down Chorus: And set them all out in a row, a row, A lovely song written by volunteered as a Major Peter Hope and made And get you six jolly good fellows of the Turkish famous by Van Morrison At the harvest fair she’ll be surely there To drink to this buffer below. irregular cavalry. among others. Peter said And I’ll dress in my Sunday clothes, Chosen by: David Marsh in “ I chose this song because Chorus memory of our scout master mum used to sing it and With my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked Right Tommy Ward RIP 1907- 1994 Always Remembered it was a favourite of Anne for a smile from my nut brown rose. And then in the calm of the twilight McEvoy, (Jacks first wife) No pipe I’ll smoke, no horse I’ll yoke who came from Bangor, When the soft winds are whispering low, so low, County Down and was a till my plough turns rust coloured brown. And the darkening shadows are falling, great friend of Lucy and Till a smiling bride, by my own fireside myself.” Sometimes think of this buffer below. Chosen by: Peter Booth its the star of the County Down. Chorus

Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 62 63 That’s the Way the World Goes ‘Round The Auld Triangle I know a guy that’s got a lot to lose. A hungry feeling came o’er me stealing He’s a pretty nice fellow but he’s kind of confused. And the mice were squealing He’s got muscles in his head that ain’t never been used, In my prison cell Thinks he owns half of this town. Chorus: Starts drinking heavy gets a big red nose, And the old triangle Beats his old lady with a rubber hose. Went jingle jangle, all along the banks Then he takes her out to dinner Of the Royal Canal and buys her new clothes. To begin the morning Chorus: The warder’s bawling “Get out of bed That’s the way that the world goes ‘round. And clean up your cell” That’s the way that the world goes ‘round. Chorus ou’re up one day and the next you’re down. It’s half an inch of water and you think you’re gonna drown. On a fine spring evening That’s the way that the world goes ‘round The lag lay dreaming The seagulls wheeling I was sitting in the bathtub counting my toes, High above the wall When the radiator broke, water all froze. Chorus I got stuck in the ice without my clothes, Naked as the eyes of a clown. The screw was peeping The lag was sleeping I was crying ice cubes hoping I’d croak, While he lay weeping When the sun come through the window, the ice all broke. For his girl Sal I stood up and laughed thought it was a joke Chorus Chorus - First verse again... The wind was rising The Auld Triangle And the day declining First performed publicly As I lay pining In my prison cell as a part of the play Chorus The Quare Fellow (1954) by Brendan Behan, In the female prison the song is rumoured to have been written by Brendan’s There are seventy women brother Dominic Behan, but I wish it was with them Dominic never credited the That I did dwell song to himself on any Chorus recordings he made, and Brendan never attributed it That’s the Way the World Goes ‘Round to anyone but himself. The day was dying Written by John Prine. The song was made famous by And the wind was sighing Chosen for our old friend Dave Crolla. Luke Kelly in the late 1960s. As I lay crying In my prison cell Dave introduced the songs of John Prine to the band Chosen by: Declan Mahon along with many other great songs as well as some And the old triangle... interesting adjectives to describe those who deserved Chorus Dave’s withering epithets. God bless him. Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 64 65 The Contender The Fields of Athenry When I was young and I was in my day By a lonely prison wall, Sure I’d steal what woman’s heart there was away, I heard a young girl calling And I’d sing into the dawning Michael they have taken you away, Saw a blaze into the morning For you stole Trevelyan’s corn Long before I was the man you see today. So the young might see the morn, Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay I was born beneath the star that promised all, Chorus I could live my life between Cork Cobh and Youghal, Low lie, The Fields of Athenry But the wheel of fortune took me, where once we watched the small free birds fly From the highest point she shook me, Our love was on the wing By the bottle, by the bottle I should fall we had dreams and songs to sing, It’s so lonely round the Fields of Athenry Chorus: There in the mirror on the wall By a lonely prison wall I see the dream is fading I heard a young man calling From the contender to the fall ‘Nothing matters Mary, when you’re free’ The ring, the rose, the matador, raving Against the famine and the crown, I rebelled, they cut me down When I die I’ll die a drunk down on the street, Now you must raise our child with dignity He will count me out to ten in clear defeat, Chorus Wrap the Starry Plough around me, By a lonely harbour wall Let the pipers air resound me there, She watched the last star falling There I rest until the Lord of Love I meet As the prison ship sailed out against the sky For she lived in hope and pray Chorus For her love in Botany Bay It’s so lonely round the Fields Of Athenry Chorus

The Contender The Fields of Athenry Written by Jimmy McCarthy. Written by Pete St. John. Chosen by: John Paul Boyle. The lyrics say the convict’s crime is that he “stole Trevelyan’s JP came with us on a number of the early trips. corn”; this is a reference to Charles Edward Trevelyan, a senior A great musician who while he didn’t like the small British civil servant in the administration of the Lord Lieuten- boat to Clare Island he certainly enhanced ant of Ireland in Dublin Castle. Trevelyan famously said, “The the music with his talent... judgement of God sent the calamity to teach the Irish a lesson”. He believed that the starving Irish could subsist on maize, a grain that they could not afford, and had little knowledge of or experience in preparing. Chosen by: Vincent Hafferty. Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 66 67 Thousands are Sailing When the Stars Go Blue The island it is silent now But the ghosts still haunt the waves and the torch lights up a famished man Who fortune could not save Dancin’ where the stars go blue Did you work upon the railroads? Did you rid the streets of crime? Dancin’ where the evening fell Were your dollars from the white house? Were they from the five and dime? Dancin’ in your wooden shoes Did the old songs taunt or cheer you And did they still make you cry? In a wedding gown Did you count the months and years Or did your teardrops quickly dry? “Ah, no”, says he, “’twas not to be On a coffin ship I came here Dancin’ out on 7th Street And I never even got so far That they could change my name” Dancin’ through the underground Thousands are sailing across the western ocean Dancin’ little marionette to a land of opportunity That some of them will never see Are you happy now? Fortune prevailing across the western ocean Their bellies full, their spirits free They’ll break the chains of poverty and Chorus they’ll dance Where do you go when you’re lonely In Manhattan’s desert twilight In the death of afternoon Where do you go when you’re blue We stepped hand in hand on Broadway Like the first man on the moon Where do you go when you’re lonely And “The Blackbird” broke the silence As you whistled it so sweet I’ll follow you And in Brendan Behan’s footsteps I danced up and down the street When the stars go blue Stars go blue Then we said goodnight to Broadway Giving it our best regards Tipped our hats to Mister Cohan Dear old Times Square’s favourite bard Stars go blue Then we raised a glass to JFK And a dozen more besides Stars go blue When I got back to my empty room I suppose I must have cried Laughing with your pretty mouth Thousands are sailing Across the western ocean Laughing with your broken eyes where the hand of opportunity Draws tickets in a lottery, where e’er we go We celebrate Laughing with your lover’s tongue the land that makes us refugees In a lullaby From fear of Priests with empty plates From guilt and weeping effigies Chorus and we dance

When the Stars Go Blue Written by Ryan Adams Thousands are Sailing Chosen by: Jimmy Molloy Written by Phil Chevron of The Pogues Chosen by: Richard King aka The Meister Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 68 69 Whiskey on a Sunday Willy McBride Chorus: Chorus: Come day go day, I wish in my heart it was Sunday, Did they beat the drum slowly did they play the fife lowly, did they sound the death drinkin’ buttermilk through the week and whiskey on a Sunday march as they lowered you down did the band play the last post and chorus, did the pipes play the “Flowers of the Forest” He sits on the corner by Bevington Bush Well how do you do young Willie McBride? do you mind if I sit down here by atop of an ould packing crate your graveside and rest for a while ‘neath the warm summer sun He’s got three wooden dolls who can dance and can sing I’ve been walkin’ all day and I’m nearly done and he sits with a smile on his face I see by your gravestone you were only nineteen when you joined the great fallen of 1916 Well I hope you died quick and I hope you died clean Willie Chorus McBride was it slow and obscene Chorus His tired ould hands tug away on the strings, the puppets they dance up and down And the beautiful wife or the sweetheart for life, in some faithful heart are It’s a far better show than you ever will see you forever enshrined, and although you died back in 1916, in that faithful heart are you forever nineteen? or are you a stranger without even a name, en- in the fanciest theatre in town shrined forever behind a glass pane, in an ould photograph torn tattered and Chorus stained, fading to yellow in a brown leather frame? Chorus I’m sad to relate that ould Seth Davie died in nineteen hundred and four Now the sun shines down on the green fields of France, a warm summer wind makes the red poppies dance, The trenches have vanished under the his three wooden dolls in the dustbin are laid ploughs, there’s no gas no barbed wire there’s no guns firing now, but here in their songs will be heard never more this graveyard it’s still No Man’s land, the countless white crosses stand mute Chorus in the sand, for man’s blind indifference to his fellow man, to a whole genera- tion that was butchered and damned Some dark stormy night should your passin’ that way Chorus and the winds blowin’ up from the sea Now Willie McBride I can’t help wonder why, Do those who lie here do they you can still hear the voice of ould Seth Davie know why they died, Did they really believe when they answered the call, did as he sings to his dancin’ dolls three they really believe that this war would end wars. Forever this song of suffer- Chorus ing and shame, the killing the dying was all done in vain, for young Willie McBride it’s all happened again, and again, and again, and again and again Chorus

Whiskey on a Sunday Is a song written by Glyn Hughes (1932–1972), which became popular during the 60’s folk Willy McBride revival. It is sometimes called “The Ballad of Seth Davy”. aka The Green Field’s of France The song laments the death in 1902 of a performer, Seth Davy, who sang and performed with Written by Eric Bogle first titled “No Man’s Land” reflecting a set of “dancing dolls” outside a public house in Liverpool. Seth Davy was in fact a Jamaican on the grave of a young man who died in World War I. who performed outside the Bevington Bush Hotel around the turn of the century. Chosen for: Mick Lavelle. Mick was a great character and Chosen by: Michael Rabbit singer who had 1000’s of songs but his parody of this song was one of our favourites and heard many times in Matt Molloy’s Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners 70 71 Writing on the Wall You’ll Never be the Sun I’ve broken all your bones And promises I gave, You’ll never be the sun turning in the sky Sat upon some throne, And you won’t be the moon above us on a moonlit night Like the one who owned a slave. And you won’t be the stars in heaven Although they burn so bright And I never had the guts But even on the deepest ocean You will be the light To turn to you at all And I constantly ignored You may not always shine As you go barefoot over stone The writing on the wall You might be so long together Or you might walk alone And you won’t find that love comes easy But that love is always right I’ve listened to your dreams So even when the dark clouds gather You will be the light With one ear on the shelf, Fed you reams and reams Of stuff about myself, And if you lose the part inside When loves turns round on you And I ploughed on like the blind Leaving the past behind Is knowing you’ll do like you always do Regardless of a fall Holding you blind, keeping you true Because I couldn’t see The writing on the wall

And when the hammer fell, It was like a mortal blow And I turned around to see Someone I didn’t know. And I thought I knew you well, Oh, I thought I knew it all, But I never thought I’d see The writing on the wall

We hurt the ones we love, To see how they might bend, Push our luck so far That we break them in the end. And the day that we wake up They’ve gone beyond recall Writing on the Wall Because we couldn’t see Written by Mick Hanly. the writing on the wall I first heard this when Crolla sang it You’ll Never be the Sun to me outside a pub Written by Irish songwriter Donagh Long in 1994. Recorded by some of the best female on Achill Island - struck a note... singers of all time: Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris and Dolores Keane Chosen by: John Paul Boyle – not forgetting Anne Copley. Chosen by: Anne Copley. It reminds me of many lovely weekends in the ‘kitchen’ at Matt Molloy’s, where we never see the sun! – but the craic is always 100% Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners Charities Supported by The Wild Geese...

The Margaret Carey Foundation www.margaretcareyfoundation.org.uk This charity rescues scrapped bicycles and wheelchairs and organises their repair and distribution to communities in need, especially in developing countries, The reason for choosing this charity is not only because it does fantastic work, but also because it was rescued from oblivion by our friend and fellow Goose David Brown – a very fine man.

The Mayo & Roscommon Hospice www.hospice.ie Based in Knock County Mayo Ireland, this charity provides tremendous help to patients and their families during the stressful times associated with terminal illness. All proceeds from the sale of the Geese 25 song book will be split equally between these two deserving charities.

Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners Wild Geese 25th Anniversary Charity Song Book 2016 ...all songs are copyright of their respective owners