Songs of Ireland

Welcome to the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow for a celebration

of Irish music from Celtic Connections Festival 2012.

Songs Of Ireland -

a concert of contemporary and traditional songs

of emigration, love, loss and longing -

features some of Ireland's finest musicians and singers, including...

Luka Bloom,

Eleanor McEvoy,

Finbar Furey,

Cara Dillon

and Brian Kennedy.

There'll be a song, too, from Scottish singer Dick Gaughan.

They will all be accompanied by the wonderful house band, Solas,

who get the concert off to a great start with a set of jigs.

Hey!

Hey!

Ha!

Oh!

Ha!

Ha!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

There he is, Mr Luka Bloom.

Right, let's go for it.

Right, so, lads. As the actress said to the bishop,

"You couldn't have come at a better time."

# Where is this place we've come to?

# We don't know what to say

# We long to see each other

# And are frightened of that day

# You met me in a barren place

# You walked me to the hill

# We were so good for each other then

# I know we could be still

Hup!

# You couldn't have come at a better time

# You couldn't have come at a better time

# You couldn't have come at a better time

# Not if you tried

# Oh, no

# Not if you tried

# Oh, no

# We have 500 questions

# Between you and me

# If you look into my eyes, my love

# Tell me what you see

# Is it something you're not sure of?

# Is it something true and fine?

# Or is it just another case

# Of the right thing at the wrong time?

# No way, baby

# You couldn't have come at a better time

# You couldn't have come at a better time

# You couldn't have come at a better time

# Since we were first together

# By the lakeside, sky so blue

# We were so good for each other

# Me and you and me and you

# Me and you, me and yo-ou

# You couldn't have come at a better time

# You couldn't have come at a better time

# You couldn't have come at a better time

# Not if you tried

# Oh, no

# Not if you tried

# Oh, no

Hup!

# You couldn't have come at a better time

# You couldn't have come at a better time

# You couldn't have come at a better time

# Not if you tried

# Oh, no

# Not if you tried

# Oh, no

# Not if you tried. #

One, two, three.

Ha!

Ha!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Thank you very much.

Luka Bloom!

A-ha!

How you all doing?

-AUDIENCE:

-Good!

A pleasure to be here.

# My heart is low

# My heart is so low

# As only a woman's heart can be

# As only a woman's

# As only a woman's

# As only a woman's heart can know

# The tears that drip

# From my bewildered eyes

# Taste of bittersweet romance

# You're still in my hopes

# You're still on my mind, yeah

# And even though I manage on my own

# My heart is low

# My heart is so low

# As only a woman's heart can be

# As only a woman's

# As only a woman's

# As only a woman's heart can know

# When restless eyes

# Reveal my troubled soul

# And memories flood my weary heart

# I mourn for my dreams

# I mourn for my wasted love

# And while I know that I'll survive alone

# My heart is low

# My heart is so low

# As only a woman's heart can be

# As only a woman's

# As only a woman's

# As only a woman's heart can know... #

Let me hear you sing it.

# My heart is low

# My heart is so low

# As only a woman's heart can be

# As only a woman's

# As only a woman's

# As only a woman's heart can know... #

One last time.

# My heart is low

# Yes, my heart is so low

# As only a woman's heart can be

# As only a woman's

# As only a woman's

# As only a woman's heart can know. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Wow!

Good evening.

-AUDIENCE:

-Good evening.

That's lovely.

It's great to be understood when you speak, you know?

LAUGHTER

I've terrible times when I go to Germany, with the Germans.

LAUGHTER

I haven't had a chance to tune up,

because of all the musicians backstage.

Isn't it great, the music?

You want to see it backstage. You think out here is great?

The back's brilliant!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# When first I saw the love light in your eyes

# I thought the world held nought but joy for me

# And even though we drifted far apart

# I never dream but what I dream of you

# I love you... #

Sing it with me. Come on.

# As I've never loved before... #

Close your eyes!

# Since first I saw you on the village green

# Come to me

# E'er my dreams of love are o'er

# Oh, I love you as I loved you

# When you were sweet

# When you were sweet 16... #

Sing with me.

# I love you as I've...

-AUDIENCE:

-# ..never loved before... #

Close your eyes, no-one will see you singing. It'll be great.

LAUGHTER

# Since first I saw you...

# ..on the village green... #

It's beautiful.

# Come to me

# E'er my dreams of love are o'er

# Oh, I love you as I loved you

# When you were sweet

# When you were sweet 16. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

What are we doing here, Meabh?

LAUGHTER

I'm sorry about this, Meabh.

They never told us we'd have to do this.

LAUGHTER

It's her first time ever in Glasgow, God help her.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Come all ye loyal heroes

# Wherever that you may be

# Don't hire with any master

# Till you know what your work will be

# For you must rise up early

# From the clear daylight till dawn

# And fear you'll ne'er be able for to plough the Rocks of Bawn

# My shoes they are well-worn now

# My stockings they are thin

# And my heart is always trembling

# For fear they might give in

# My heart is always trembling

# From the clear daylight till the dawn

# And I fear I'll ne'er be able for to plough the Rocks of Bawn

# Oh, my curse attend you, Sweeney

# For you have me nearly robbed

# You're sitting by the fireside

# With your duidin in your gob

# You're sitting by the fireside

# From clear daylight till dawn

# And I fear you'll ne'er be able for to plough the Rocks of Bawn

# I wish the sergeant major

# Would send for me in time

# And place me in some regiment all in my youth and prime

# I would fight for Ireland's glory

# From the clear daylight till dawn

# Before I would return again to plough the Rocks of Bawn. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Thank you very much.

That was fabulous! Woo!

Seamus and Meabh Begley!

# My young love said to me

# "My mother won't mind

# "And my father won't slight you

# "For your lack of kind"

# And she stepped away from me

# And this she did say

# "It will not be long, love

# "Till our wedding day"

# She stepped away from me

# And she moved through the fair

# And fondly I watched her

# Move here and move there

# And she turned her way homeward

# With one star awake

# As the swan in the evening

# Moves over the lake

# The people were saying

# "No two were e'er wed

# "But one has a sorrow

# "That never was said"

# And she smiled as she passed me

# With her goods and her gear

# And that was the last

# That I saw of my dear

# Last night she came to me

# My true love came in

# And she came in so easy

# Her feet made no din

# And she laid her hands on me

# And this she did say

# "It will not be long, love

# "Till our wedding day"

# Oh, whoa

# No, it won't be long

# My love

# No, it won't be long

# My love

# No, it won't be long

# My love. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Cara Dillon.

This is a song I learned a lot of years ago.

It deals with...

anti-Irish prejudice and also anti-Highland prejudice.

And I've got a foot in both camps.

One half from Mayo and the other half from Lochaber.

And it tells the story of a guy who comes from Argyll,

which technically is not Highland, but it'll do.

It's near enough.

And he's wandering about in my home town of Edinburgh one day,

and he bumps into a member of the local constabulary,

who engages him in conversation, hears the funny accent

and immediately jumps to entirely the wrong conclusion.

And tries to arrest him on suspicion of being Irish,

which he thought was a criminal offence.

And the song has got the glorious title of Erin Go Bragh.

# My name's Duncan Campbell fae the shire o' Argyll

# I've travelled this country for many's the mile

# I've travelled through Ireland Scotland an' aw

# An the name I go under's bold Erin Go Bragh

# One night in Auld Reekie As I walked doon the street

# A saucy big polis I chanced for tae meet

# He glowered in my face And he gie'd me some jaw

# Sayin', "When came ye o'er bold Erin Go Bragh?"

# Well, I am not a Pat Though in Ireland I've been

# Nor am I a Paddy Though Ireland I've seen

# But were I a Paddy That's nothin' at aw

# For there's many's a bold hero from Erin Go Bragh

# Well I know you're a Pat By the cut o' yer hair

# But ye aw turn tae Scotsmen As soon as yer here

# Ye left yer ain country for breakin' the law

# An we're seizin' aw stragglers from Erin Go Bragh

# And were I a Pat And ye knew it were true

# Or was I the devil Then whit's that tae you?

# Were it no' for the stick That ye haud in yer paw

# I'd show ye a game played in Erin Go Bragh

# And a lump o' blackthorn That I held in my fist

# Around his big body I made it tae twist

# And the blood fae his napper I quickly did draw

# And paid him stock and interest for Erin Go Bragh

# But the people came round like a flock o' wild geese

# Sayin', "Catch that daft rascal, he's killed the police!"

# And for every friend I had I'm sure he had twa

# It wis terrible hard times for Erin Go Bragh

# But I came tae a wee boat that sails in the Forth

# And I packed up my gear And I steered for the North

# Farewell tae Auld Reekie Yer polis an' aw

# And the devil gang wi' ye says Erin Go Bragh

# So come aw ye young people Wherever you're from

# I don't give a damn tae whit place ye belong

# I come fae Argyll in the Heilans so braw

# Bit I ne'er took it ill bein' called Erin Go Bragh. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Erin Go Bragh!

Thank you!

Thanks a million to everybody.

And thank you, Seamus, for inviting me to do this.

Mr Dick Gaughan!

# Dun do shuil a run mo chroi

# A chuid den tsaol, 's a ghra liom

# Dun do shuil a run mo chroi

# Agus gheobhair feirin amarach

# Ta do dheaid ag teacht gan mhoill on chnoc

# Agus cearca fraoich ar laimh leis

# Agus codlaidh go ciuin 'do lui sa choid

# Agus gheobhair feirin amarach

# Dun do shuil a run mo chroi

# A chuid den tsaol, 's a ghra liom

# Dun do shuil a run mo chroi

# Agus gheobhair feirin amarach

# Ta an samhradh ag teacht le grian is le teas

# Agus duilliur ghlas ar phratai

# Ta an ghaoth ag teacht go fial aneas

# Agus gheobhaimid iasc amarach

# Dun do shuil a run mo chroi

# A chuid den tsaol, 's a ghra liom

# Dun do shuil a run mo chroi

# Agus gheobhair feirin amarach. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

How blessed am I to have Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh for a friend?

Thank you very much.

When I wrote this song in 1984

there were 100,000 illegal Irish immigrants in New York City alone.

Such was the extent of emigration from Ireland.

And these days this song is seemingly relevant all over again.

I'm very honoured to be here to sing it for you tonight.

# In the City of Chicago

# As the evening shadows fall

# There are people dreaming

# Of the hills of Donegal

# 1847 was the year it all began

# Deadly pains of hunger

# Drove a million from this land

# They journeyed not for glory

# Their motive wasn't greed

# A voyage of survival

# Across the stormy seas

# To the city of Chicago

# As the evening shadows fall

# There are people dreaming

# Of the hills of Donegal

# Some of them knew fortune

# Some of them knew fame

# More of them knew hardship

# Died upon the plains

# They spread throughout the nation

# They rode the railroad cars

# Brought their songs and music

# To ease their lonely hearts

# To the city of Chicago

# As the evening shadows fall

# There are people dreaming

# Of the hills of Donegal

# To the city of Chicago

# As the evening shadows fall

# There are people dreaming

# Of the hills of Donegal

# 1847 was the year it all began

# Deadly pains of hunger

# Drove a million from this land. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Thank you very much.

# I just dropped in to see you all

# I'll only stay awhile

# I want to see how you're getting on

# I want to see you smile

# I'm happy to be back again

# To greet you big and small

# Cos there's nowhere else on earth

# Just like the homes of Donegal

# I long to see your laughing children

# Standing by the door

# The kettle boiling on the hearth

# As I walk up the floor

# And then to see a welcome free

# To travellers one and all

# Cos your hearts are like your mountains

# In the homes of Donegal

# I'd like to stay along with you

# And while away the night

# Fairy lore and tales of yore

# Beneath the turf fire bright

# And then to see laid out for me

# A shake-down by the wall

# For there's rest for weary wanderers

# In the homes of Donegal

# Donegal

# Donegal

# The time has come for me to go

# And bid you all adieu

# The open highways call me back

# To do this thing I do

# But when I'm travelling far away

# Your friendship I'll recall

# And please God I'll soon return unto

# The homes of Donegal

# Donegal

# Donegal

# Donegal

# Donegal. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Eleanor McEvoy!

Thanks a million! Thanks, guys!

# Oh, Danny Boy

# The pipes, the pipes are calling

# From glen to glen

# And down the mountainside

# The summer's gone

# And all the flowers are dying

# It's you, it's you must go

# And I must bide

# But come ye back

# When summer's in the meadow

# Or when the valley's hushed

# And white with snow

# It's I'll be here

# In sunshine or in shadow

# Oh, Danny Boy, oh, Danny Boy,

# I love you so

# And if you come

# When all the flowers are dying

# And I am dead

# As dead as I may be

# You'll come and find

# The place where I am lying

# And kneel and say

# An Ave there for me

# And I shall hear

# Though soft you tread above me

# And all my dreams

# Will warm and sweeter be

# Then you shall kneel

# And whisper that you love me

# And I shall sleep in peace

# Until you come to me

# But come ye back

# When summer's in... #

Oh, Glasgow!

# When the valley's hushed

# And white with snow

# 'Tis I'll be here

# In sunshine or in shadow

# Oh, Danny Boy, oh, Danny Boy

# I love you so... #

One more time for me.

# Oh, Danny Boy, oh, Danny Boy

# I love you so. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Thank you, Glasgow!

Mr Brian Kennedy!

Thank you very, very much.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd