Songs on thesession

I’m not sure if this has discussed before… I was going to check but I don’t want to sort though 10177 results.

Though I’m not a singer, and I will always prefer a set of reels to a sean nos song, it seems to me that the songs are just as integral to the tradition as the tunes. They help keep the language and stories alive in a way that tunes can’t.

Now, as a session website, don’t you think the songs deserve a bit of representation here? We have the melodies for a couple, but there are myriad airs to still be posted, and lots of lyrics.

And yes, I know we can go elsewhere for our songs, but why not keep it all with the orgers?

Am I alone in my thinking?

oui, oui monsieur !

There is Mudcat cafe for the song enthusiasts. This site is entirely set up for a bunch of tune addicts. No songs please.

Agree with Henk.

Oil and water, RC, oil and water 🙂

You plough a lonely furrow, Mr. Crow…

There has never been a ban on discussing songs on the discussion part of the website, but building a database of songs would just duplicate a number of resources that are already out there, and cause more work for the webmaster. Things are OK as they are.

Here Red Crow, this is the best song to sing at a session.

The Pub Musician’s Complaint

Say two Acts of Contrition for the poor pub musician,
If I have a son that’s one thing he won’t be.
He’s to put up with chances and trickies and shysters,
And publicans dropping 10 quid from the fee.
But the worst of them all is that drunken old know-all,
That musical expert and self-made MC.
So if you’ve any notion to make a commotion,
I beg your attention you’ll pay now to me.

(Chorus)
Come all you fleadh ceol boys I do things my way,
I do what I want when I sing and I play.
If this you don’t like them get up on your bike,
For it’s equal to me if you go or you stay.

Now we’re sitting down here and we’re playing a few tunes,
It’s the grandest session that we’ve played in years,
But if God be my judge there’s some ignorant moron,
And in no time at all he’ll be all bored to tears,
With his “Won’t you play this one?” and "Can’t you play that one?
Play some piece of rock and we’ll liven this place!"
But says I "You old gobsh*te you wouldn’t know rock
If it got up and clocked you straight into your face!"

(Chorus)

Now that same individual won’t be there when you start,
But he’ll surely be there when you’ve finished your stint.
For he must make a tour of all other locations,
And he only comes in when he can’t get more drink.
He’ll exhort you to play just to keep the bar open,
He’ll sing an old dirge without rhythm or rhyme,
Some nonsensical drivel that he can’t remember,
And yet he’ll keep singing the same old three lines.

(Chorus)

Now every known creature has a female equivalent,
And this one’s no different (the insulting old cow).
As drunk as a lord and she’s singing dischorded,
She’ll wonder why you can’t accompany her now?
But myself, having manners, will say "I don’t know it,
Besides the time has gone on and it’s time to go home."
But what I’d like to say is "I don’t want to play it,
Now would you kindly feck off and leave me alone?"

(Chorus)

So come all you good people and give us proper order,
When we play a tune or when we sing a song.
For it took dedication and it sure wasn’t easy,
And no we’re not making them up as we go along.
If you think you can do it, you’re welcome to try it,
We’ll pack up our cases and leave you alone.
If not then shut up and let others enjoy it,
And we’ll all be contented before we go home.

(Chorus)

To which melody is The Pub Musician’s Complaint?
I am not a singer. When I come on TheSession I expect to find tunes, links to recordings, & discussions regarding those who play traditional instruments. Typically if I am searching for lyrics I would go elsewhere; either on the web or by purchasing a songbook. Jeremy has already provided for comments on each tune submitted. Any tune, which is also a song, should have the verses submitted as comments. Due consideration should be given to the source of such material. Always credit your sources ~ most especially the composer of music &/or lyrics.
Having said that, in all its’ stifled pedantry, I believe your discussion has merit. I have not studied the history of song in Ireland. I suspect it has more relevance than it is being given by a few members.
I do appreciate a good lively session with just tunes. I do hope others like myself appreciate that instrumental sessions alone do not preserve the tradition. Our tradition is enriched by the inclusion of dances, solo airs, & singing.
Red Crow let me offer a suggestion. Give your discussion the credibility it deserves. Be prepared. Do your homework. My advice is the same for everyone who would rather see this discussion disappear.

Sorry if I offended anyone…
It was just an observation. And as I said, I am not a singer, and I’ll take pure tunes any day.

Here is a thread from TheSession’s formative years.
https://thesession.org/discussions/1248

No need to apologize, Red Crow, if we didn’t make observations despite the criticisms we sometimes receive, there would be very little posted on this board!

I am curious: What sites are there, being resource and discussion sites like this one, but that are devoted entirely to Irish and Scottish singing?

As stated above, singing has cropped up here before, and I have to think it is because of a perceived need from the singers.

Comments, please?

Polite, objective reviews of other sites?

Thank you.

I’m ashamed to say I don’t know the name of the tune to which that song goes, but it is from this excellent collection of original songs done in the Tradition from Cork.

http://www.jimmycrowley.com/ssas.html

“…There are no big stars here: how could there be when the very raison d’etre of these people would present a threat to the bland hegemony of Anglo-American culture to which post-modern Ireland has bought itself into hook, line and sinker. But the artistes here represent an unbroken line of bardic tradition of great antiquity…”

Thank you SWFL I will check out the Cork info.
Knowing that many of the tunes, airs,etc. have words associated I looked for the more obvious ones;

The Minstrel Boy
https://thesession.org/tunes/6782/comments

The Song of the Riddles
https://thesession.org/tunes/7475/comments

The Last Rose of Summer
https://thesession.org/tunes/6049/comments

Merrily Kissed the Quaker’s Wife
https://thesession.org/tunes/70#comment7858

Whistle owre the lave o’t
https://thesession.org/tunes/2051#comment235151

PETER’S SONG
(Tommy Sands)
There was Peter sitting in the corner fiddle in his hand
Playing away like you never did hear and you’ll never hear again
St. Paul on banjo, Moses on the bodhràn everything was grand
Oh mighty Lord please let me in I want to join the band . . .

I ponder sometimes on the delicious irony of the lyrics of the old Sinatra song, “It’s Nice to go Trav‘lin’ ”, 2nd verse of course,

It’s very nice to just wander the camel route to Iraq
It’s oh, so nice to just wander
But it’s so much nicer, yes it’s oh, so nice to wander back

http://www.mlyrics.com/lyrics/Frank_Sinatra/Unknown/It‘s_Nice_to_Go_Trav’ling
Who would have thought back in the days of innocence of the Cold War how relevant that verse would be today.

Sorry, is this off-topic? Humblest apologies.

Just want to express my appreciation of all the contributors to this thread. Really good discussion.

Rook: www.mudcat.org

If you google Irish Song Lyrics (or Scottish for that matter), you will find a lot of sites with lyrics, chords, and midis to give you the tune. And for the more common songs, typing the title or first line into google will lead you to a source. That is what I did a few years ago when me and the wife formed a little group, got some gigs, and soon realized that our tunes were not all the audience wanted to hear. And I have found that I really enjoy singing, although I don’t do it much at sessions.
Just beware, some of the sites post lyrics that vary considerably from the original, or have typos, so “caveat emptor” (I think that means let the buyer beware).

Many 18th & 19th c. Scottish songs are in a collection
at the National Library of Scotland. They are starting a pilot program to index the collection on line. No telling how long they will take. Still it is interesting to see the 1st line of some old songs:
http://www.nls.uk/collections/music/songindex/info.html

Songs are an integral part of a TRADITIONAL session.

In recent years a lot of posers claiming to protect the true tradition banned songs.

Most of them can be found on this site.

You tell ’em, Bliss!

Oooo, the tune police are gonna be here any second. I’m taking my “Come All Yez” and getting the heck out of here before we all get busted.

i sing and i think that it might be a good idea for the session to have a (i dont know if u can do this but hey) sister site..like it cud have a link at the bottom of the page to tell peolpe where to go for music lyrics.just a thought.please dont bite my head off….. :-S

No one listens Al, the Johnny -Come_Lately ITM “posers” know it all.

>>Songs are an integral part of a TRADITIONAL session.
In recent years a lot of posers claiming to protect the true tradition banned songs.
Most of them can be found on this site.


errrmmm….sorry, Bliss, you’ve lost me there…..I’m confused now. And here was me thinking that this website was about tunes and instrumental music. I wonder what made me think that. As much as I like a good song (in the ratio of about 1 song to 6-10 sets of tunes), I am sure Jeremy might possibly had the idea that this might be a site for tunes and somewhere like Mudcat might cater more for songs when he wrote the following but what would I know:


"Welcome to The Session

The exchange of tunes is what keeps traditional Irish music alive. This website is one way of passing on jigs, reels and other dance tunes.

Some of the tunes are well known, and some are more obscure. It’s this mixture of the familiar and the new that makes for a good session."

Well, let’s see, whadda yuh think, do I look better in the purple and pink paisley print neru jacket or the deep blue velour double brested? Would a red beret be a step too far? I’ve got that macho leather Aussie hat. No, I don’t go for that cork thing. And what about the boots, should I wear boots? Would it be crass to wear my snakeskin boots with the silver spurs? I haven’t a clue about what trousers to wear with this. Maybe I should just wear all leather and a fake eye patch? Or just my raybans? 😎

Now you say you love me,
Well, just to prove that you do,
Come on and cry me a river,
Cry me a river,
Cause I cried a river over you…

Come on effreebothy, less ssing unh, “Moo ‘burp’ Wiver”…

Unfortunately, KML, I am a true purist. A “session” was known as a ceilidh, a gathering at a house for a hooley or “session”, including tunes, songs, dance and story telling, not to forget recitation.

When the session moved to the pub, the tunes and songs were retained.

Only lately do we find newcomers inventing rules banning everything, including enjoying oneself, which is what the original sessions were all about.

Yes, recitation, story telling, song, dance, music…and let us not also forget the social cohesion, the intercourse that held it all together, between family and friends, the chat, the banter, the laughter… I prefer that rich variety of content over just a constant drone of one tune after the other… So, flat cap, blue jeans, runners and a t-shirt from Oxfam, and my blue North Face fleece, and no makeup… I might sing Lone Shanakyle…maybe the Raybans too, and a silk cravat… 😎

Well said Ceol, the spirit of the session and the soul of ITM is alive and well.

But bliss, how can you be a purist as you claim, if, as your moniker suggests, you play bodhrán?
The bodhrán only came into “mainstream” Irish trad music about 40 years ago from the Wren Boys tradition, where it had held sway from time immemorial around Cos. Lim’ck and Kerry.

Ceolachan,
Not to forget the "the half-talk code of mysteries
And the wink-and-elbow language of delight."
P. Kavanagh

THE SPOONS MURDER
1.
In the tavern one night we were sitting;
I’m sure ’twas the last week of March.
From our drinks we were cautiously sipping,
To ensure that our throats didn’t parch.

2.
We played music both lively and dacent
To bolster our spirits and hopes.
While we gazed at the females adjacent,
And remarked on their curves and their slopes.

3.
Till this gent wandered into our session,
And decided to join in the tunes.
Without waiting to ask our permission,
He took out a large pair of soup spoons.

4.
Our teeth in short time we were gritting.
As he shook and he rattled his toys;
And the company’s eardrums were splitting,
With his ugly mechanical noise.

5.
Hopping spoons off our heads to provoke us,
He continued the music to kill.
Whether hornpipes, slow airs or polkas
They all sounded like pneumatic drills.

6.
Then he asked could we play any faster,
As his talent he wished to display.
With a grin on the face of the bastard,
Like a cat as she teases her prey.

7.
Our feelings by now were quite bloody,
And politely we asked him to quit.
We suggested a part of his body
Where those spoons could conveniently fit.

8.
This monster we pestered and hounded.
We implored him with curses and tears.
But in vain; our appeals they resounded
In the desert between his two ears.

9.
When I went out the back on a mission,
He arrived as I finished my leak.
He said, ’This is a mighty fine session,
I think I’ll come here every week.’

10.
When I heard this, with rage I was leppin’
And no more of this torture I’d take.
I looked round for a suitable weapon
To silence this damn rattlesnake.
11.
Outside towards the yard I did sally.
To find something to vanquish my foe;
I grabbed hold of a gentleman’s Raleigh
With fifteen-speed gear and dynamo.

12.
Then I battered this musical vandal;
As I shouted with furious cries,
’My dear man your last spoon you have handled,
Say your prayers and await your demise.’

13.
With the bike I assailed my tormentor;
As I swung in a frenzy of hate,
Till his bones and his skull were in splinters;
And his health in a very poor state.

14.
And when I was no longer able,
I forestalled any last minute hitch;
By removing the gear-changing cable,
And strangling the son-of-a-bitch.

15.
At the end of my onslaught ferocious
I stood back and surveyed the scene.
The state of the place was atrocious,
Full of fragments of man and machine.

16.
At the spoons player’s remains I was staring;
His condition was surely no joke,
For his nose was clogged up with ball bearings,
And his left eye was pierced by a spoke.

17.
At the sight I was feeling quite squeamish;
So I washed up and went back inside.
Then I drank a half-gallon of Beamish,
For my throat in the struggle had dried.

18.
Unpolluted by cutlery’s clatter,
The music was pleasant and sweet.
For the rest of the night nothing mattered,
But the tunes and the tapping of feet.

19.
At the inquest, the following September,
The coroner said, ’I conclude
The deceased by himself was dismembered,
As no sign could be found of a feud.’

20.
’For the evidence shows that the fact is;
As reported to me by the Guards,
He indulged in the foolhardy practice
Of trick cycling in public house yards.’

21.
So if you’re desperately keen on percussion,
And to join in the tunes you can’t wait,
Be you Irishman, German or Russian
Take a lesson from his awful fate.

22.
If your spoons are the best silver plated,
Or the humblest of cheap stainless steel,
When you play them abroad you’ll be hated;
So just use them for eating your meal.

Con O’Drisceoil

😉

They played bodhrans at the Battle of Clontarf, 1014, and they were old hat then. Never heard “Brian Boru’s march?”.

The myth about O’Riada inventing bodhrans is yet another “rule” the newcomer posers brought in.

And I saw them playing bodhrans in “Titanic”. That was 1912.

Good un’ kilfarboy… 😀

That’s a masterpiece, the Spoons Murder. Fantastic!

The Pub Musician’s Complaint is by Gus McLoughlan, just to pay proper credit there.

…and bb, you know very well drums didn’t exist until just recently. Though every other culture in the history of the world used them, the Irish managed to spend millennia completely ignoring them and feigning ignorance. “Huh? Drums? What now? Who me? I didn’t do it. No sir. No drums here.”

A bit of research has revealed the following mp3 of The Spoons Murders.

Enjoy!

http://www.tipsyhouse.com/spoonsmurder.mp3

Con O Drisceoil’s Book/CD ‘The Spoons Murder’ is full of masterpieces like this. Highly recommended.

Bliss, how can you be certain that the blessed B was played at the Battle of Clontarf? Were you there? And, if not, please point us in the direction of the piece of primary source material which describes this event.

My great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great grandfather was there, the story was passed down from father to son. Now he didn’t play the bodhran, because there were already 569 bodhran players, and that was just on the Danish side.

He was the singer.

As we all know the celts who came to Ireland came from mostly Tunisia, bringing that sieve North African drum with them.

Why would they have brought a drum? Wouldn’t Ryanair’s hand-baggage surcharges have been a deterrent?