Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar

Subject: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: GUEST,The lil' Vanbone
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 12:45 AM

I just recently have become aware of just how many bands have covered Whiskey in the Jar. Most recently Metallica, but they weren't the first to moderate the song to a new genre. There seems to be about a thousand covers. Not to speak against the song, but what on earth posessed them to embrace that one particular song over all others???

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 01:42 AM

The rhythm, the beat, the lyrics. Because it's a fun song, esp for audience participation on the chorus. We all like our whiskey in the jar..........

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: Pseudolus
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 12:44 PM

I'm not sure why, but I sure am glad that Metallica did. Because now, every time some smartass yells up at the stage at me (JUST me and my guitar mind you!!), Metallica!!!! I jump right into a rousing version of Whiskey in the jar! I had a rather inebriated "gentleman" who frequented a bar where I played on a regular basis swear that I was wrong and he proceeded to bet me $50 that Metallica never recorded the song. I carried a copy of the song with me for several gigs back at that bar....he, however has not returned.......imagine that.

Btw, I also love it when someone wants me to play Pearl Jam! I have played a J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers song for years and Pearl Jam was nice enough to butche...uh....murde....uh, well, COVER the song. In any case, they ask for Pearl Jam, I play "Last Kiss". I offer them a drink if they can tell me the original artist....I've never lost.... :)

Frank

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: GUEST,UB Dan
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 03:27 PM

Metallica's cover is almost an exact reproduction of Thin Lizzy's remake of Whiskey in the Jar. Thin Lizzy did it as a space filler in order to complete an album and it ended up on the pop charts. Apparently Thin Lizzy was a little upset that this song received the more attention than a lot of his other work, and he did not want to be remembered for playing Irish Traditional music. The remake, however, is brilliant and between all the different people looking for a Traditional song, or a Rock Song, or a clap along audience participation songs there are a number of people covering it.

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: GUEST,UB Dan
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 03:37 PM

interesting Thin Lizzy history : http://www.roisindubh.com/history2.htm

Phil felt convinced he already had a hit up his sleeve with a song called 'Black Boys On The Corner.' What they needed was a B - side, and during a rehearsal session they thought they had found one. Phil started strumming a traditional Irish tune called 'Whiskey In The Jar.' Eric picked up his guitar and jammed and along and soon Brian Downey joined in on drums. The whole piece started steaming away when Ted Carroll walked in and immediately proclaimed he was hearing a hit single. He begged them to put it on the A side - and that's the way it came out in November 1972, with 'Black Boys On The Corner' on the B- side.

Said Phil: "We just wanted to put it out for a laugh, for the kids at home.

The small town boys didn't think that having a pop hit with a revamped Irish folk song was the right way for dedicated musos to carry on. They could see themselves ...always hunting for another hit to survive. The sudden rush of activity was also hard for them to swallow.

it didn't matter what we were playing on stage. People aren't listening until we played 'Whiskey in The Jar: and then they were jumping up and down.. Then they went home. They just came to hear the number one.

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: UB Ed
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 03:39 PM

That's pretty how much it is with our band...

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 03:58 PM

My take on Whiskey In The Jar...

As far as the crappy-plastic-written-in-north-america junk goes, Whiskey In The Jar is my favorite... I've even re-written the lyrics so they make more sence... I enjoy playing it ONCE a night... after that, I got better things to do...

;-)

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: UB Ed
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 04:08 PM

Clinton, share your lyrics?

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 04:09 PM

I think I have, but just incase, I'll come back tomorrow and post 'em... gotta run clean up my new place before we paint...

;-)

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: Jim Krause
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 04:15 PM

Why do so many groups cover the song? And why Metalica? It's gotta be the I, vi, ii, V⁷ chord progression.
Rock 'n' Roll!!
Jim

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: GUEST,UB Dan
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 04:35 PM

Thin Lizzy did it because they were out of Ireland and needed a B-side (which became the A-side) and they wanted to "put it out for a laugh, for the kids at home. "

Metallica did it as a specific homage to Thin Lizzy whom they recognize as an influence in their own music. Garage, Inc. was a release of songs they used to do as covers when they began...they did not alter Thin Lizzy's version to any great extent...

At any rate, I'm not sure it really has that many more remakes than say Danny Boy or other Pub standards...its just the popularity of first Thin Lizzy and then Metallica's release.

That said, I dig the song...drinking, fighting, prison, brothers, a dishonest woman, add a dog or a pickup and it could hit the country charts

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 05:21 PM

Kilgarry Mountain is in North America? I'm getting dizzy, mind if I sit down?

C.C.

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: Chicken Charlie
Date: 10 Apr 01 - 05:30 PM

Kilgarry Mountain is in North America? I'm getting dizzy, mind if I sit down?

C.C.

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 02:10 AM

Whisky In The Jar

As I was going over the far-famed Kerry Mountains
I met with Captain Farrell and his money, he was countin'
Well, I first produced my pistol, then rattled forth my saber
Sayin', "Stand and deliver, for I am the Bold Deceiver!"

Musha rig rumma du rumma da Whack fol the daddy-oh
Whack fol the daddy-oh There's whisky in the jar

Well, he counted out his money and it made a pretty penny
I took the booty home with me and gave it to my Jenny
She kissed me and she swore that she never would deceive me
But, while I was a sleepin', of my blade she did relieve me

Musha rig...

It was early in the morning I awoke to Jenny's favour
The guards were standin' `round me, and me without my saber
Well, I flew to my pistol, but alas, I was mistaken
For Jenny's wet the powder and it's a pris'ner I am taken

Musha rig...

Well, they hauled me off to gaol, without no judge nor lawyer
And the arm of Captain Farrell around Jenny, my destroyer
But they didn't tie my fists, so I knocked the sentry down
And I bid a fond farewell to the gaol in Slaigo Town

Musha rig...

Now, I think I'll find my brother: the one what's in the army
I don't know where he's station'd; Is it Cork or in Killarney?
Together we'll go rovin'and drink barrels of Kilkenny
And I know he'll treat me fairer than my darlin' whorin' Jenny

Musha rig...

There's some who take delight in fishin' and in bowlin'
While others take delight in their carraiges a-rollin'
But me, I take delight in the juice of the barley
And courtin' pretty maids in the mornin' bright an' early

Musha rig...

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: John P
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 08:10 AM

My friend Robert Kotta was of Irish/Mexican descent and wrote this version. Sadly, he died last year of a heart attack at age 47. Sing this with your best bad Frito Bandido accent.
-John Peekstok

TEQUILA IN THE JAR
by Robert Kotta

As I was going over the mountains of Morelos,
I met with Captain Sanchez, he was counting his dineros.
I pulled out my pistola and I stuck it in his middle,
Saying, "Give me all your money 'cause I am a bad bandido."

chorus:
Muchos gringos trabajar.
Whack fol the barrio, whack fol the barrio,
Es tequila in the jar.

I took all that money back home to my Maria,
She saw the shining pesos and she says "It's good to see ya!"
She vowed and she swore that she'd never blow my cover,
But never trust a woman if she has another lover.

I woke up the next morning, had a breakfast of tamales,
When the casa was surrounded by a bunch of Federales.
They smashed down the door and they broke the window latches,
And took me off to prison but they had no stinking badges.

In the calaboose they put me, with all the other fellows,
For robbing Captain Sanchez in the mountains of Morelos.
But they didn't take my reefers, so I got the jailer loaded,
And then I rode away while his mind it was eroded.

I think I'll find my brother, the one that's in Allisto,
We'll get ourselves a Chevy and go up to San Francisco.
Together we'll go cruisin' and pretend like we are machos,
Pick up pretty girls, get 'em drunk and feed 'em nachos!

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: Willie-O
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 08:32 AM

That just aboot slayed me...I think the Irish Mexican version is considerably tightened up from the original.

..Our fiddle orchestra plays a little medley of "Irish Washerwoman" with "Mexican Hat Dance" inserted between the first and the repeat of the A part of Washerwoman (both parts of Hat Dance)--try it -- it works.

Willie-O'Gringo

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: Willie-O
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 08:51 AM

By the way, in the movie "In The Name Of The Father", whose version was playing while Daniel Day Lewis was working out? Was that Thin Lizzy?

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: GUEST,UB Dan
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 09:12 AM

It was thin Lizzy in the movie (http://www.volovik.com/kino/soundtrack/In_The_Name_Of_The_Father/4.htm).

Clinton, thanks for posting the lyrics.

I know we were corrected when we used to sing "Kilgarry mountains" and we have since switched to "The Cork and Kerry Mountains"

Subject: RE: Lord, There's alot of Whiskey in the jar
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 11 Apr 01 - 01:27 PM

Wear 'em in good health Dan... just give credit where due eh.. ;-)