This week’s Irish Pub Song Of The Day is a personal favorite ever since I was turned on to it by Bill Hannigan of Three Men In Kilts. It’s a great song and the best part is that all of the melody notes are inside the chords for frailing banjo players.

Old Black Rum MP3

Old Black Rum (PDF)

OLD BLACK RUM

I drank [G]16 doubles for the [D7]price of [G]one

Tryin to find the [C]courage to [A]talk to [D7]one

I asked her [C]for [D7]a [G]dance, not a [C]sec[D7]ond [G]glance

my night had just [D7]begun

Well I’d [G]drink to the father or the [D7]holy [G]ghost

I’m [C]kneeling at the [G]alter of my [A7]nightly [D7]post

And I’ll [C]raise [D7]a [G]glass, not the [C]first [D7]or [G]last

come join me [D7]in this [G]toast

‘Cause the [D]Ol’ black rum’s got a [G]hold on me

like a [G]dog wrapped [C]’round my [D7]leg

And the [D]Ol’ black rum’s got a [G]hold on me.

Will I [G]live for an[D7]other [G]day..[C]hey?

Will I [G]live for an[D7]other [G]day?

The queen of George Street just went walkin’ on by

walkin’ on by with some guy who don’t care

That she stood in line since half past nine

And spent three hours on her hair

Her friend is lookin’ at me with an evil grin

I think a bloody racket might soon begin

I must have said something to the George Street queen

Now the boys are joining in.

So I drank all of my money and I slept out in the rain

Every day is different, but the nights are all the same

You never see the sun on the old black rum

And I know I’m gonna do it again.

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Joel Simpson joins me once again! This time for the Folk Song of The Week, Spider-Man. If you haven’t already noticed and since I didn’t mention it in the videos. Check out the differences in how I play frailing banjo when I am by myself and when I play with someone. This isn’t something you can really teach and everyone does it differently, but there is a change in when you play frailing banjo unaccompanied and how you play frailing banjo when you are accompanied.

Try it and have fun!

Spider-Man Accompaniment MP3

Spider-Man (PDF)

Spider-Man

[D]Spider-man, Spider-man does whatever a spider can

[G]Spins a web, any size, [D]catches thieves, just like flies

[A]Look out! Here comes the [D]Spider-man!

[D]Is he strong? Listen, Bud! He’s got radioactive blood.

[G]Can he swing from a thread? [D]Take a look overhead.

Hey [A]there, there goes the [D]Spider-man!

In the [E]chill of night, at the [B7]scene of the crime

Like a [G]streak of light, he arrives just in [A]time

Spider-man, Spider-man, friendly neighborhood Spider-man

Wealth and fame, he’s ignored, action is his reward

To him, life is a great big bang-up, wherever there’s a hang-up

You’ll find the Spider-man!

Joel is back for this edition of the Irish Pub Song Of The Day Accompaniment. We usually do God Save Ireland in another key so it was fun getting Joel to laugh when we started to get into it. As I say in the video, we only do one take and right or wrong you get what you get.

If you are interested in my shameless plug for his new tuner, you can find the Peterson StroboClip at this link.

God Save Ireland Accompaniement MP3

God Save Ireland (PDF)

GOD SAVE IRELAND

High [G]upon the gallows tree swung the [C]noble hearted [G]three

By the vengeful tyrant stricken in their [D7]bloom

But they [G]met them face to face with the [C]courage of their [G]race

And they went with souls [D7]undaunted to their [G]doom.

Chorus:

God save Ireland, said the heroes, [D]God save Ireland said they [D7]all.

Whether [G]on the scaffold high or the [C]battlefield we [G]die,

Oh what matter if for [D7]Ireland dear we [G]fall.

Girt around with cruel foes, still their courage proudly rose,
For they thought of hearts that loved them far and near.
Of the millions true and brave o’er the ocean’s swelling wave
And their friends in holy Ireland ever dear.

Climed they up the rugged stair, rang their voices out in prayer
Them with England’s fatal cord around them cast.
Close beside the gallows tree, kissed like brothers lovingly
True to home and faith and freedom to the last

Never till latest day shall the memory pass away
O the gallant lives thus given for our land
But on the cause must go amid joy or weal or woe
Till we make our Isle a nation free and grand.

It’s time for the simple melody for the Irish Pub Song Of The Day and Folk Song Of The Week. God Save Ireland is one of my favorites of all time. Most people love The Wolfe Tones version, but when I saw Terry Murphy in Detroit, MI doing it live, I fell in love with the song. What can I say about Spider-Man? It’s fun and as Stan Lee would say: ‘Nuff said.

This week’s Folk Song Of The Week is Spider-Man. I had to think of something to top Somewhere Over The Rainbow and this seemed to hit the spot.

It is also a great lesson in key of D. Everything except for two places in the song is right out of the chord forms.

Have fun!!!

Spider-Man MP3

Spider-Man (PDF)

Spider-Man

[D]Spider-man, Spider-man does whatever a spider can

[G]Spins a web, any size, [D]catches thieves, just like flies

[A]Look out! Here comes the [D]Spider-man!

[D]Is he strong? Listen, Bud! He’s got radioactive blood.

[G]Can he swing from a thread? [D]Take a look overhead.

Hey [A]there, there goes the [D]Spider-man!

In the [E]chill of night, at the [B7]scene of the crime

Like a [G]streak of light, he arrives just in [A]time

Spider-man, Spider-man, friendly neighborhood Spider-man

Wealth and fame, he’s ignored, action is his reward

To him, life is a great big bang-up, wherever there’s a hang-up

You’ll find the Spider-man!

This week’s Irish Pub Song Of The Day is a great song, God Save Ireland. This one is a little tricky when it comes to the simple melody. I know that when I show it to you on Wednesday, you’ll get it with just a little practice.

God Save Ireland MP3

God Save Ireland (PDF)

GOD SAVE IRELAND

High [G]upon the gallows tree swung the [C]noble hearted [G]three

By the vengeful tyrant stricken in their [D7]bloom

But they [G]met them face to face with the [C]courage of their [G]race

And they went with souls [D7]undaunted to their [G]doom.

Chorus:

God save Ireland, said the heroes, [D]God save Ireland said they [D7]all.

Whether [G]on the scaffold high or the [C]battlefield we [G]die,

Oh what matter if for [D7]Ireland dear we [G]fall.

Girt around with cruel foes, still their courage proudly rose,
For they thought of hearts that loved them far and near.
Of the millions true and brave o’er the ocean’s swelling wave
And their friends in holy Ireland ever dear.

Climed they up the rugged stair, rang their voices out in prayer
Them with England’s fatal cord around them cast.
Close beside the gallows tree, kissed like brothers lovingly
True to home and faith and freedom to the last

Never till latest day shall the memory pass away
O the gallant lives thus given for our land
But on the cause must go amid joy or weal or woe
Till we make our Isle a nation free and grand.

Every year, Joel Simpson and I are asked to perform at the Historic Methodist Campground in Des Plaines, IL. We have a bast every time. This year, we were also asked to do the music for the Church Service on Sunday before our show and we had a great time.

I love performing there because it’s a really nice family atmosphere and everyone is there for a good time. If you ever make it out there, make sure to stop by the baked goods section….delicious.

I’ve put these videos in chronological order. As you can see, it’s very laid back and as the day goes on, I try to get Joel to laugh. I love making up verses on the fly just to see if I can get him to laugh hard enough to stop playing. He didn’t stop this year, so I’ll just have to try harder next year.

It’s Friday and time for Accompaniment for the Folk Song Of The Week. Since I had Joel Simpson over, I had him do this one with me as well. It’s short and sweet and was a lot of fun to do.

I hope you like it.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow – Accompaniment MP3

Somewhere Over The Rainbow (PDF)

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

[G]Somewhere [Bm]over the rainbow [C]Way up [G]high

[Am]There’s a [G]land that I heard of [D7]Once in a lulla[G]by

Verse 2:

[G]Somewhere [Bm]over the rainbow [C]Skies are [G]blue

[Am]And the [G]dreams that you dare to [D7]Dream really do come [G]true

Chorus:

Some [G]day I’ll wish upon a star
And [D7]wake up where the clouds are far be[C]hind me
Where [G]troubles melt like lemondrops
A[D7]way above the chimney tops
That’s [Em]where you’ll [C]find me

Verse 3:

[G]Somewhere [Bm]over the rainbow [C]Bluebirds [G]fly
[Am]Birds fly [G]over the rainbow [D7]Why then, oh why can’t [G]I?

Ending:

[G]If happy little bluebirds fly Be[D7]yond the rainbow
Why, oh [C]why [D7]can’t [G]I?

There is nothing like a little emotional blackmail to make something even sweeter
Joel Simpson was unlucky enough to miss a gig two weeks ago, so I used my “I owe you one” card to get him to accompany me on this song.

I hope you like it and you play along.

The Liar Accompaniment MP3

The Liar (PDF)

THE LIAR

Singin’ [G]right-fol-toor-a-laddie-toor-a-[D7]lee

There is no one who can tell a lie like [G]me

You can [C]search until you’re tired,

you won’t [G]find a bigger [Em]liar

I’ve been [D7]lyin’ since the dawn of histo[G]ry

Now I was born about ten thousand years ago
In Ballmullet in the county of Mayo
It was me that chased the vermin while St. Patrick preached a sermon
And I’ll whoop the man who says it isn’t so (chorus)

I saw Eve go pickin’ apples of a tree
She came over and she offered one to me
Well I turned and said “ Damn Madam, you can try your luck with Adam.”
“I’m going home to have some fish and chips and tea.”

Now I saw Delilah cuttin’ Samson’s hair
She snipped away until his head was bare
When he couldn’t run away, she married him next day
And they opened up a barbershop in Claire (chorus)

Now when Cromwell came to Ireland long ago
He didn’t shed a drop of blood, you know
All the people started grievin’ when they heard that he was leavin’
If I knew a bigger lie, I’d tell ya so (chorus)

It was during World War II I met them all
There was Roosevelt, Churchill, and De Gaul
Then one day I nearly fainted, I was havin’ my house painted
There was Hitler hangin’ paper in my hall (chorus x 2)

It’s time for the Simple Melody for the Irish Pub Song Of The Day and Folk Song Of The Week. The Liar and Somewhere Over The Rainbow have a similar run at the beginning of the song so I had to do them this week. Just remember on Somewhere Over The Rainbow that you will need to use a 3 finger B minor chord. It takes a little while to get it, but I’m sure you will get there in the end.

The Liar / Somewhere Over The Rainbow MP3

The Liar (PDF)

Somewhere Over The Rainbow (PDF)