Flaherty Irish songs Flaherty.org
It's A Great Day For The Irish

It's a Great Day for the Irish, It's a great day for the fair!
The sidewalks of New York are thick with blarney,

For sure you'd think of New York was ol' Killarney!
It's a great day for the shamrock,

For the flags in full array. We're feeling so inspirish,
Sure because for all the Irish, It's a Great, Great, DAY!

Danny Boy  
Oh, Danny Boy, the pipes... the pipes are calling,
From glen to glen and down the mountain side.
The summer's gone and all the leaves are falling,

Tis you, Tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back, when summer's in the meadow,
and all the valley's hushed and white with snow.
And I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow,
Oh, Danny Boy, Oh, Danny Boy, I love you so!

But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying
If I be dead, as dead I well may be.
Then come and find the place where I am lying,
And kneel and say an Ave there for me.
And I shall hear, though soft your tread above me,
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be.
And you shall bend, and tell me that you love me,
And I shall rest in peace until you come to me.

My Wild Irish Rose  
My Wild Irish Rose, The sweetest flower that grows.
You may search everywhere,
But none can compare with my wild Irish Rose.

My Wild Irish Rose, The dearest flower that grows.
And someday for my sake, She may let me take,
The bloom from my wild Irish Rose.

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling  
When Irish eyes are smiling Sure it's like a morning spring. In the
lilt of Irish laughter, You can hear the angels sing. When Irish hearts are happy, All the world seems bright and gay. And
when Irish eyes are smiling, Sure, they steal your heart away. There's a tear in your eye, and I'm wondering why, For
it never should be there at all. With such power in your smile, sure a stone you'd beguile, So there's never a teardrop
should fall. When your sweet lilting laughter's like some fairy song, And your eyes twinkle bright as can be, You should
laugh all the while and all other times smile, And now smile a smile for me. Chorus: When Irish eyes are smiling Sure it's
like a morning spring. In the lilt of Irish laughter, You can hear the angels sing. When Irish hearts are happy, All the world
seems bright and gay. And when Irish eyes are smiling, Sure, they steal your heart away.

I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover 
I'm looking over a four leaf clover That I over-looked
before. One leaf is sunshine, the second is rain, Third is the roses that grows in the lane. No need explaining the one
remaining Is somebody I adore. I'm looking over a four leaf clover That I over-looked before!

HARRIGAN  
H-A-Double R-I G-A-N spells Harrigan! Proud of all the Irish that's in me. Divil a man can
say a word agin me! Oh, H-A-Double R-I G-A-N you see! It's the name, That no shame has ever been connected
with It's a name that a shame never has been connected with.

The Unicorn  
A long time ago when the Earth was green, There was more kinds of animals then you've ever seen.
And they'd run around free while the world was being born. The loveliest of all was the Unicorn! There was green alligators
and long necked geese, Hump back camels and chimpanzees. Cats and rats and elephants but sure a you're born, The
loveliest of all was the Unicorn! But the Lord seen some sinnin' and it caused him pain. He says, "Stand back, I'm gonna
make it rain. So hey, Brother Noah, I'll tell you what to do. Go and build me a floating zoo." "You'll take two alligators
and a couple of geese, Two hump back camels and two chimpanzees. Two cats, two rats, two elephants but as sure as
you're born, Noah, don't you forget my unicorns!" Well, Noah looked out through the drivin' rain, But the unicorns was
hidin'-playin' silly games. They were kickin' and a-splashin' while the rain was pourin', Oh them foolish unicorns. "So you
take two alligators and a couple of geese, Two hump back camels and two chimpanzees. Two cats, two rats, two elephants
but as sure as you're born, Noah, don't you forget my unicorns." And the the ark started movin' and it drifted with the tide,
And the unicorns looked up from the rock and cried. And the water cameup and sort of floated them away, That's why
you've never seen a unicorn to this day. You'll see a lot of alligators and a whole mess of geese, You'll see hump back
camels andchimpanzees. You'll see cats and rats and elephants butas sure as you're born,
You're never gonna see no unicorn.

That's An Irish Lullaby  
Over in Killarney, many years ago, Me Mother sang a song to me in tones so sweet and low. Just a simple little ditty, in her good old Irish way. And I'd give the world if she could sing that song to me this day. Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li. Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Hush now don't you cry! Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li. Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, That's an Irish lullaby.

I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen 
I'll take you home again, Kathleen, Across the ocean wild and wide To where your heart has ever been Since first you were my bonny bride. The roses all have left your cheek; I've watched them fade away and die. Your voice is sad when e'er you speak And tears be-dim your loving eyes. Oh, I will take you back, Kathleen, To where your heart will feel no pain. And when the fields are fresh and green I'll take you to your home again.

Sweet Rosie O'Grady  
Sweet Rosie O'Grady My dear little rose, She's my steady lady, Most everyone knows, And when we are married, How happy we'll be, I love Sweet Rosie O'Grady, And Rosie O'Grady loves me.

Galway Bay  
If you ever go across the sea to Ireland, Then maybe at the closing of your day, You will sit and watch the moon rise over Glodagh, And see the sun go down on Galway Bay. And if there's to be a life hereafter, And somehow I'm sure there's going to be, I will ask my God to let me make my heaven, In that dear land across the Irish sea. Just to hear again the ripple of the trout stream and the women in the meadows making hay, to sit beside the turf fire in the cabin and watch the barefoot gossams (spelled phonetically) at their play. For the breezes blowin' o'er the sea from Ireland are perfumed by the heather as they blow And the women in the upland diggin' tatties speak a language that the strangers do not know. For the stangers came and tried to teach us their way. They scorned us just for bein' what we are. But they might as well go chasin' after moon beams Or light a penny candle from a star. And if there's to be a life hereafter, And somehow I'm sure there's going to be, I will ask my God to let me make my heaven, In that dear land across the Irish sea.

Sidewalks of New York  
Eastside, Westside, All around the town, The kids sand "Ring-a-Rosie, Londonbridge is falling down." Boys and girls together, Me and Mamie O'Rourke, Tripped the light fantastic On the Sidewalks of New York.

Cockles and Mussels  
In Dublin's Fair City, where the girls are so pretty, 'Twas there I first met MY sweet Molly Malone. She drove a wheel-barrow thro' streets broad and narrow, Crying "COCKLES AND MUSSELS, a-live, a-live-o!" A-live, alive-o! A-live, a-live-o! Crying "COCKLES AND MUSSELS, a-live, a-live-o!" She was a fishing-monger, and that was no wonder, For so was her father and mother before. They drove their wheel-barrows thro' streets broad and narrow, Crying "COCKLES ANd MUSSELS, a-live, a-live-o" She died of the fever, and nothing could save her, And that was the endof sweet Molly Malone. But her ghost drives a barrow thro' streets broad and narrow, Crying "COCKLES AND MUSSELS, a-live, a-live-o"

The Rose of Tralee  
The pale moon was rising above the green mountains, The sun was declining beneath the blue sea When I strayed with my love to the pure crystal fountain That stands in the beautiful vale of Tralee, She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer, Yet t'was not her beauty along that won me. Oh, no! t'was the truth in her eyes ever dawning That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.

Peg Of My Heart  
Peg O'My Heart, I love you, We'll never part, I love you, Dear little girl, sweet little girl, Sweeter than the Rose of Erin Are your winningsmiles endearin', Peg O'MyHeart, your glances With Irish art entrance us, Come be my own, Come, make your home in my heart.

Peggy O'Neil
If her eyesare blue as skies, That's Peggy O'Neil. If she smiling all the while That's Peggy O'Neil. If she walkslike a sly little rogue- If she talks with a cute little brogue- Sweet personality, full of rascality, That's Peggy O'Neil.

MacNamara's Band  
Oh! Me name is MacNamara, I'm the leader of the band. Although we're few in numbers We're the finest in the land. We playat wakes and weddings And at ev'ry fancy ball, And when we play to funerals We play the march from Saul. Oh! The drums go bang And the crystals clang, And the horns they blaze away; McCarthy pumps the old bassoon While I the pipes do play; And Hennessey Tennessee toootles the flute, And the music is somethin' grand; A credit to old Ireland is MacNamara's band. Oh! My name is Uncle Yulius and From Sweden I have come, To play with MacNamara's band And beat the big bass drum, And when I march along the street The ladies think I'm grand They shout "There's Uncle Yuliius playing with an Irish band." Oh! I wear a bunch of shamrocks And a uniform of green, And I'm the funniest looking Swede that you have ever seen. There's O'Briens and Ryans and Sheehans and Meehans They come from Ireland, But by Yimminy I'm the only Swede in MacNamara's band.

A Little Bit Of Heaven  
Sure, a little bit o' Heaven fell from out of the sky one day, And nestled on the ocean in a spot so far away; And the angelsfound it, sure it looked so sweetand fair. They said suppose we leave it, for it looks so peaceful there! So they sprinkled it with star dust just to make the shamrocks grow; 'Tis the only place you'll find them, No matter where you go; Then they dotted it with silver To make its lakes so grand, And when they had it finished Sure they called it IRELAND!

Mickey  
Mickey, pretty Mickey, With your hair a raven hue. In your smiling so beguiling, There a bit of Killarney, Bit of the Blarney, too. Child-hood in the wildwood, Like a mountain flow'r you grew. Pretty Mickey, pretty Mickey, Can you blame anyone for falling in love with you?

Mother Machree  
Sure, I love the dear silver That shines in your hair, And the brow that's furrowed And wrinkled with care, I kiss the dear fingers, So toil worn for me, Oh, God bless you, and keep you Mother Machree!

The Bowery
Oh, the night that I struck New York I went out for a quiet walk, Folks who were on to the city say better by far that I take Broadway But I was out to enjoy the sights there was the Bowery ablaze with lights, I had one of the Devil's own night I'll never go there anymore. (Refrain) The Bow'ry, the Bow'ry They say such things, And they do strange things, On the Bow'ry, the Bow'ry I'll never go there anymore. The Bow'ry, the Bow'ry They say such things, And they do strange things, On the Bow'ry, the Bow'ry I'll never go there anymore.

Clancy Lowered The Boom  
Now Clancy was a peaceful man, if you know what I mean. The cops picked up the pieces after Clancy left the scene. He never looked for trouble, that's a fact you can assume. But never-the-less, when trouble would press, Clancy lowered the boom! Oh, that Clancy! Oh, that Clancy! Whenever they got his Irish up, Clancy lowered the boom! O'Leary was a fighting man, they all knew he was tough. He strutted 'round the neighborhood, a-shootin' off his guff. He picked a fight with Clancy, then and there he sealed his doom. Before you could shout "O'Leary, look out!" Clancy lowered the boom! Clancy left the barber shop with tonic on his hair, He walked into the poolroom and he met O'Reilly there. O'Reilly said "For goodness sakes, now do I smell perfume?" Before you could stack your cue in the rack, Clancy lowered the boom! Mulrooney walked into the bar and ordered up a round. He left his drink to telephone, and Clancy drank it down. Mulrooney said "Who drunk me drink? I'll lay him in his tomb!" Before you could pat the top of your hat, Clancy lowered the boom! O'Houlihan delivered ice to Misses Clancy's flat. He'd always linger for a while, to talk of this and that. One day he kissed her just as Clancy walked into the room. Before you could say the time of day, Clancy lowered the boom! The neighbors all turned out for Kate O'Grady's weddin' night. McDoogle said "Let's have some fun - I think I'll start a fight!" He wrecked the hall, then kissed the bride and pulverized the groom. Then quick as a wink, before you could think, Clancy lowered the boom!

How Are Things In Glocca Morra? 
How are things in Glocca Morra? Is that little brook still leaping there? Does it still run down to Donny-cove? Through Killy-begs, Kilkerry and Kildare? How are things in Glocca Morra? Is that willow tree still weeping there? Does that laddie with the twinklin' eye Come whistlin' by and does he walk away, Sad and dreamy there not to see me there? So I ask each weepin' willow And each brook along the way, And each lad that comes a whistlin' Too-ra-lay How are things in Glocca Morra This fine day?

It's The Same Old Shillelagh  
Sure IT's THE SAME OLD SHILLELAGH Me Father brought from Ireland. And Divil a man prouder than He, As He walked with it in his hand. He'd lead the band on Paddy's Day And twirle it round his mitt And divil a bit we'd laught at it OrDad would have a fit Sure with THE SAME OLD SHILLELAGH Me Father could lick a dozen men As fastas they'd get up be gorry, He'd knock'em down again And many's the time He used it on me To make me understand THE SAME OLD SHILLELAGH Me Father brought from Ireland.

Who Threw The Overalls in Mrs. Murphy's Chowder?
Mrs. Murphy gave a party just about a week a-go, Everything was plentiful the Murphy's they're not slow, They treated us like gentlemenwe tried to act the same, And only for what happened well it was an awful shame. Chrous: Who threw the overalls in Mrs. Murphy's chowder? Nobody spoke so we shouted all the louder, It's an Irish trick that's true, But we'll lick the "mick" that threw The overalls in Mrs. Murphy's chowder. When she dished the chowder out she fainted on the spot. She found a pair of overalls at the bottom of the pot. Tim Nolan, he got rippin' mad. His eyes were bulging out. He stood upon the piano and loudly he did shout. Chorus: They took the pants from out the soup and laid them on the floor. Each man swore upon his life he ne'er seen them before. They were plastered up with morter and were worn out at the knee. Only for what happened then it was too plain to see. Chorus: When Mrs. Murphy she came to, she began to cry and pout. She had them in the wash that day and forgot to take them out. Tim Nolan he excused himself for what he said that night So we put music to the words and sang with all our might. Chorus:

Mary It's A Grand Old Name  
For it is Mary, Mary, plain as any name can be; But with propiety, society will say Marie; But it was Mary, Mary, long before the fashions came, And there is something there, that sounds so square, It's a grand old name.

The Parting Glass
Oh all the money that e're I spent, I spent it in good company. And all the harm that e're I've done alas it was to none but me. And all I've done for want of wit To memory now I can't recall. So fill to me the parting glass, Goodnight and joy be with you all, Oh all the comrades that e're I had Are sorry now I'm going away. And all the sweethearts that e're I had Would wish me one more day to stay. But since it falls unto my lot That I should rise and you should not. I'll gently rise and I'll softly call Goodnight and joy be with you all. If I had money enough to spend, And leisure time to sit awhile. There is a fair maid in this town, That sorely has my heart beguiled. Her rosey cheeks and ruby lips, I own she has my heart in thrall. Then fill me with the parting glass, Good night and joy be with you all.

Galway Bay (Parody)  
Maybe some day I'll go back again to Ireland If my dear old wife would only pass away She nearly has my heart broke with all her naggin She's got a mouth as big as Galway Bay See her drinking sixteen pints of pabst blue ribbon And then she can walk home without a sway If the sea were beer instead of salty water She'd live and die in Galway Bay See her drinking sixteen pints at Padgo Murphey's The barman says I think it's time to go Well she doesn't try to speak to him in Gaelic In a language that the clergy do not know On her back she has tattooed a map of Ireland And when she takes her bath on Saturday She rubs the sunlight soap around by Claddagh Just watch the suds flow down by Galway Bay.

01/07/2008