Today’s Irish Pub Song Of The Day is Seven Old Ladies. I learned this version from Charlie Taylor in Michigan over a decade ago. If you can keep a straight face during the song, you are a better person than I am.

Seven Old Ladies

Seven Old Ladies(PDF)

SEVEN OLD LADIES

And it’s [G]oh dear, what can the matter be?
[C]Seven old ladies got [D7]stuck in the lavatory
[G]They were there from Sunday to Saturday
[C]nobody [D7]knew they were [G]there

Well the first old lady was Jennifer Primm [C]she went in on a [D7]personal whim
She [G]got herself stuck between the bowl and the rim
[C]Nobody [D7]knew she was [G]there

The second old lady was old Mrs. Humphrey
When she went in, she made herself comfy
When she tried to get up, she couldn’t get her bum free
And nobody knew she was there.

The third old lady was Chit Chester’s daughter
She went in to get rid of some water
She very near drowned, for the rising tide caught her
And nobody knew she was there.

The fourth old lady was skinny Mrs. Boulder
She sat on the throne; there was no one to hold her
Quick as a flash she was up to her shoulder
And nobody knew she was there.

The fifth old lady was old Mrs. Craper
When she went in, she couldn’t find the paper
The only thing there was bricklayer’s scraper
And nobody knew she was there.

The sixth old lady was old Mrs. Mason
She had to be quick so she used the basin
And that was the water the Pope washed his face in
And nobody knew she was there.

The seventh old lady was old Mrs. Pender
She went in to adjust her suspenders
She got herself tangled with her feminine gender
And nobody knew she was there.

Today’s Irish Pub Song Of The Day is one of my personal favorites and I’m glad it got requested. It’s Fields of Athenry and once again it’s a song with rich imagery.  You can not only image the scene but you can feel the angst and injustice in the song.

Fields of Athenry

Fields of Athenry(PDF)

FIELDS OF ATHENRY

[G]By a lonely prison wall, I [C]heard a young girl [G]call – [D7]ing
[G]Michael they have [C]taken you [D7]away
For you [G]stole Trevelyn’s [C]corn, so the [G]young might see the [D7]morn
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the [G]bay  [C]  [G]

Chorus:-
[G]Low [C]lie, the [G]fields of Athen – [Em]ry
Where [G]once we watched the [Em]small birds [D7]fly
Our [G]love was on the [C]wing, we had [G]dreams and songs to [D7]sing
It’s so lonely ’round the fields of Athen – [G]ry  [C]  [G]

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

Chorus

By a lonely harbour wall, she watched the last star falling
And that prison ship sailed out against the sky
Sure she’ll wait and hope and pray, for her love in Botany Bay
It’s so lonely ’round the fields of Athenry

Today’s Irish Pub Song Of The Day is A Nation Once Again. It was voted the #1 song of the 20th Century by BBC Radio. It was once in consideration to be the Irish National Anthem.

A Nation Once Again

A Nation Once Again(PDF)

A NATION ONCE AGAIN

When [G]boyhood’s fire was in my blood I [C]read of [D7]ancient [G]freemen,
Of Greece and Rome who [Em]bravely stood, Three [A]hundred men and [D7]three men;
And then I prayed I yet might see Our [Em]fetters rent in [Bm]twain,
And [C]Ireland long a [Am]province [D7]be [G]A Nation [D7]once [G]again.

A nation once [C]again, A [Am]nation once [D7]again,
And [G]Ireland, long a [C]province[D7]be A [G]Nation [D7]once [G]again.

And from that time, through wildest woe, That hope has shown a far light,
Nor could love’s brightest summer glow Outshine that solemn starlight;
It seemed to watch above my head In forum, field and fame,
Its angel voice sang round my bed, A Nation once again.

It whisper’d too, that freedom’s ark, And service high and holy,
Would be profaned by feeling dark And passions vain or lowly;
For, Freedom comes from God’s right hand, And needs a godly train;
And righteous men must make our land A nation once again.

So as I grew from boy to man I bent me to my bidding
The spirit of each selfish plan And cruel passions ridding
For thus I hoped some day to aid Oh, can such hope be vain?
When my dear country shall be made A nation once again.

As some of you have probably noticed, there is some missing material on the site. It’s a long story but needless to say that a corrupted database distroyed most of the content here at BanjoMania.net. I am hoping to have everything back up in the next few days.

Until then, to get the lyrics on the songs that are missing use the PDF files.

Have fun and see you later.

Kelly

The Irish Pub Song Of The Day for Friday is Peace and Justice. It’s written to the melody of “Lonesome Valley”. It’s an addictive little song and says everything you could about peace and those (the majority on both sides) you want to find it.

Peace and Justice

Peace and Justice(PDF)

PEACE AND JUSTICE

Raise the [G]cry for peace and justice, let the [D7]people sound the [G]call
Justice [C]for our battered [G]country. Peace for [D7]one and peace for [G]all

Chorus:

Peace and [G]justice are our watchwords. Peace and [D7]justice is our [G]call
Peace and [C]justice for our [G]people. Peace for [D7]one and peace for [G]all

Tell the RUC and the English soldiers, the UVF and the IRA
Guns can’t silence all the people calling out for peace to light another brand new day

In Armagh, Belfast and Derry, people walking hand in hand
Cry with love and heartfelt yearning, “Help us heal our broken land”

Man’s injustice to his neighbour, for too long has been our fate
Practice love and understanding, all we need to hate is hate

Though the road be rough and rocky and the problems mountain high
Hold your hand out to your neighbour
And we’ll all find peace and justice by and by

We must all sit down together share our hopes, our joys, our fears
Understanding and forgiveness will dry up our country’s tears

Every day that peace continues, hope will help to ease the pain
Sisters, brothers understanding will make our land a nation once again

Lukey is today’s Irish Pub Song Of The Day. It comes to us from North of the border. I went ahead a wrote a verse just for my good friend, The Colonel. I hope you enjoy it.

Lukey

Lukey (PDF)

Lukey (2/4)

(G)Lukey’s boat is (D7)painted green,  (G)aha, me (D)boys!

(G)Lukey’s boat is (Am)painted (D7)green, It’s the (Em)prettiest boat that you’ve (C)ever (D)seen,

(G)A-ha, me (D7)boys a-riddle-i-(G)day!  (D) (G)A-ha, me (D7)boys a-riddle-i-(G)day!  (D)

(G)Lukey’s boat’s got a (D7)pineboard cutty, (G)aha, me (D)boys!

(G)Lukey’s boat’s got a (Am)pineboard (D7)cutty, and (Em)every seam is (C)chinked with (D)putty,

(G) I, says Lukey “the (D7)blinds are down,” (G)aha, me (D)boys!

(G)I, says Lukey “the (Am)blinds are (D7)down” “Me (Em)wife is dead and she’s (C)under-(D)ground”

 (G)I, says Lukey “(D7)I don’t care”(G)aha, me (D)boys!

(G)I, says Lukey “(Am)I don’t (D7)care” “I’ll (Em)get me another in the (C)spring of the (D)year”
(G) Lukey’s rolling (D7)out his grub, (G)aha, me (D)boys!

(G)Lukey’s rolling (Am)out his (D7)grub,(Em)One split pea in a (C)ten pound (D)tub,

Today’s Irish Pub Song Of The Day is one of my absolute favorites. It’s Tommy Makem’s Four Green Fields. The imagery of this song is absolutely perfect.

Four Green Fields

Four Green Fields(PDF)

FOUR GREEN FIELDS

[G]What [D7]did I [G]have said the [C]fine old [G]woman
What [D7]did I [G]have[Em] this [Am]proud old woman did [D7]say
I had [G]four [D7]green [Em]fields [G]each one [C]was a [D7]jewel
But [G]stran[D7]gers [Em]came and [C]tried to take them from [D7]me
But [G]my fine [D7]strong [G]sons they [C]fought to save my [D7]jewels
They [C]fought and they [G]died and that was my [D7]grief said [G]she

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

What have I now said the fine old woman
What have I now this proud old woman did say
I have four green fields one of them in bondage
In strangers’ hands that tried to take it from me
But my sons have sons as brave as their fathers
And my four green fields will bloom once again said she

And my four green fields will bloom once again said she

This Irish Pub Song Of The Day started life as a Dublin street ballad and became the inspiration for James Joyce’s literary masterpiece. I hope you enjoy this song of life, love and ressurection thanks to the “water of life”, Finnegan’s Wake.

Finnegan’s Wake

Finnegan’s Wake(PDF)

Today’s Irish Pub Song Of The Day is Lolly Too Dum. It’s not really Irish but I had some requests for it and it was covered by the late, great Tommy Makem.

Lolly Too Dum

Lolly Too Dum(PDF)

Lolly Too Dum

[G]As I Went Out One Morning To Take The Pleasant Air,
Lolly Too Dum, Too Dum, [D7]Lolly Too Dum[G] Day.
As I Went Out One Morning To Take The Pleasant Air,
I Overheard A Mother A-Scolding Her Daughter Fair,
Lolly Too Dum, Too Dum, [D7]Lolly Too Dum [G]Day.

You Better Go Wash Them Dishes, And Hush That Flattering Tongue
You Know You Want To Get Married And That You Are Too Young.

Oh, Pity My Condition Just As You Would Your Own.
For Fourteen Long Years, I’ve Been Living All Alone.

Supposing I Was Willing, Where Would You Get Your Man?
Why, Lordy, Mercy! Mammy, I’d Marry That Handsome Sam.

Supposing He Should Slight You Like You Done Him Before?
Why, Lordy, Mercy! Mama, I’d Marry Forty More

There’s Doctors And Lawyers And Boys From The Plow.
Why, Lordy, Mercy! Mammy, I’m Gettin’ That Feelin’ now

Now, My Daughter?s Married And Well For To Do.
Come All Ye Ladies, I’m On The Market, Too!

It’s Friday and time for a fun Irish Pub Song Of The Day. This time it’s Twice Daily. I hope you enjoy and try it, it’s easy!!!

Twice Daily

Twice Daily(PDF)

TWICE DAILY

When [G]I was a lad I was so glad to go out in the [D7]daytime
With me fork, a bottle and a cork to help out in the [G]haytime
Tossin’ hay one fine day I met young Lucy [D7]Bailey
And I said my dear “Are you often here”, she said “Yes sir, twice [G]daily”

Well we had such fun in the summer sun, Lucy was so thrillin’
So sweet and pure but I wasn’t sure if that girl was willin’
Until one day among the hay we were working gaily
When she up’s and slips and her garters ripped and I went there twice daily
Did the rum do dee, did de rum do da, did the rum da do do randy
Did the rye do dee, did the rye do da, did the rye do dee, twice daily

Well Lucy’s dad he was very mad, he chased me ’round the haybarn
He said “You son, now you’ve had your fun, the time has come to pay now”
“The girl you’ll wed”, the old man said as he waved his shotgun gaily
“If you don’t”, he says, “where I’ll put the lead you won’t sit there twice daily”

So the very next day in the month of May we held the ceremony
And we paid off the vicar with a gallon of liquor, and we rode to church on a pony
To Lucy’s joy we had a boy, what a little darlin’
He’s round and fat as a Cheshire cat, as perky as a starlin’

Well now we’re old, our story’s told, forty years together
Tho’ we often stray where we tossed the hay in that old time summer weather
Well, kids we’ve got ten or more, we goes on quiet gaily
Tho’ I’m old and grey when I’ve got me way I still go there twice daily