Lyr Req/Add: When New York Was Irish (T Winch)

Subject: Need Lyrics: When NY was Irish
From: Boston Bill
Date: 09 Jan 99 - 11:26 AM

Great song that captured the early part of this century! Should be easy to find. Thanks Boston Bill

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN NEW YORK WAS IRISH (Terence Winch)
From: Big Mick
Date: 09 Jan 99 - 12:23 PM

Here ya go lad. Great song, written by Terence Winch of the band, Celtic Thunder. I don't know which version you have heard but the original, sung by Laura Murphy is probably as good as it gets. Laura is a pretty interesting story. It seems she was encouraged by her friends to get up and sing at a Celtic Thunder pub gig, and she knocked the socks off everybody, including the band. According to the CD liner, she had to get on the phone and call her mother for lyrics to more songs. The Brothers winch hired her on the spot and the rest is history. She comes by it honest, though. Her Da, Frank Murphy sings with Glenfolk. At any rate, here are the lyrics.

WHEN NEW YORK WAS IRISH
(Terence Winch)

Key Bb - Capo 2nd, play A chord shapes

1) I'll sing you a song, of days long ago,
When people from Galway and the County Mayo.
From all over Ireland came over to stay,
And take up a new life in Am-- er--ikay. CHORUS

CHORUS:
They were ever so happy, they were ever so sad,
To grow old in a new world, through good times and bad.
All the parties and weddings, the Ceili's and Wakes,
When New York was Irish, full of joy and heartbreaks.

2) We worked on the subways, we ran the saloons,
We built all the bridges, we played all the tunes
We put out the fires, and controlled City Hall,
We started with nothing and wound up with it all. CHORUS & BRIDGE

3) You can travel from Kingsbridge, to Queens or midtown.
From Highbridge to Bayridge, from uptown to down.
From the Eastside to the seaside, sweet summer scene's,
We made New York City, our island of dreams.

CHORUS:

4.) I look at the photo's, now brittle with time;
Of the people I cherished, when the city was mine.
Oh how I love, all those radiant smiles,
How I long for the days, when we danced in the aisles.
CHORUS

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: When NY was Irish
From: Big Mick
Date: 09 Jan 99 - 12:28 PM

A postscript. The Celtic Thunder CD, "the light of other days" on which "When New York was Irish" appears, was produced by Dan Milner's friend (and great folklorist) Mick Moloney.

All the best,

Mick Lane

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: When NY was Irish
From: Boston Bill
Date: 09 Jan 99 - 02:19 PM

Where do you find the time and patience to provide such great detail? I feel like I'm on a treadmill and barely have time to blow me nose. I'll see if our Boston area Irish Elvis wants to sing "When NY was Irish". We may have local resistance, but the song is too good for only NY people.! Thanks for your trouble. Slan! Bill Kelleher

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: When NY was Irish
From: Big Mick
Date: 09 Jan 99 - 02:51 PM

Bill a chara,

I perform this song, so I only had to go to "My Documents" and copy and then paste it. You are welcome. It is indeed one of the great songs. And as far as Boston folks being a bit provincial, you might point out that there is no place like Southie anywhere. So sit back and enjoy the music.

Slan go foill,

Mick Lane

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: When NY was Irish
From: Barry Finn
Date: 09 Jan 99 - 11:06 PM

Boston's not to provincial, especially when it comes to music, any kind of music. If it's good they'll sing it, if it's bad they'll probably sing it too.
Mick do you know Southie? Barry

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: When NY was Irish
From: Big Mick
Date: 10 Jan 99 - 02:18 PM

Barry,

One of my dearest friends, a blaggard by the name of George Landers, was born and raised in Southie. He introduced my to the place with tales of his childhood. I consider it my spiritual home. ***LOL at the thought of referring to Southie as spiritual***Yes, I am familiar with Southie. While we are talking of things Boston, have you ever been to Tiernan's Pub, used to be called Michael Sherlock's? Liam Tiernan of Barleycorn fame is the publican. He comes here a couple of times a year to play in a wee pub out in the middle of nowhere, and later to perform at the Great Lakes Irish Music festival.

All the best,
,
Mick Lane

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: When NY was Irish
From: Barry Finn
Date: 10 Jan 99 - 03:50 PM

As far as I knew it was still called Micheal Sherlock's. He (Micheal) has made a living of getting Irish pubs off the ground & running & was always keen on using sessions as part of that plan. I know Liam is a musician, if he's a fiddler & also played with St. James Gate a long time ago he's the same Tiernan that I knew but haven't seen in at least 10-12 yrs. No Mick, I haven't been to the Pub/Resturant, it's kind of a fern bar place, lots of ferns, brass, white tablecloths with candles & big glass windows, probably a nice place to eat but I don't think it's very conducive to acoustic music. Another singer & I were gonna start up a sea shanty session there when it first opened but I felt it was to up & up. Is George a Boston firefighter who used to fequent the Village Coach House? Barry

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: When NY was Irish
From: Big Mick
Date: 10 Jan 99 - 04:06 PM

You told me just what I wanted to know. Now I can give Tiernan the business about his "lace curtain" establishment. Haven't been that way in a while. Hope to get there this year, I will look you up when I do. I am sure that it has gone through a name change and it is now called Tiernan's. I believe it is in the Back Bay, no? Seems like they were going through a helluva construction project, and it was affecting business. I think Sherlock is out of it, if I am not mistaken.

I have never seen Liam Tiernan play fiddle. He played guitar and was one of the singers with Barleycorn. He was a founding member, and with them when they recorded "The Men Behind The Wire" which was the #1 selling single in Irish history last I knew.

George Landers was not a fireman that I know of. He was a cop, went to DC and was a cop there and eventually became a member of the Capitol Police force. He knew both of the recently slain officers. He now works for the United Food and Commercial Workers union in the International HQ in DC.

Mick

Subject: Lyrreq When New York was Irish
From:
Date: 05 Mar 00 - 09:40 PM

Does anyone have the complete lyrics for a song which I think is called "When New York was Irish"? At least that phrase is part of the chorus:

"When New York was Irish, what joys and heart breaks"

Thanks for any help available.

Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN NEW YORK WAS IRISH (Terence Winch)
From: Brakn
Date: 05 Mar 00 - 09:52 PM

Oh I'll sing you a song of days long ago
When people from Galway and the County Mayo
From all over Ireland, they came here to stay
To take up a new life in Amerikay

Chorus
They were ever so happy, they were ever so sad
To grow old in the New World, through good times and bad
The parties and weddings, the ceilis and wakes
When New York was Irish, full of joy and heartaches

Oh we worked on the subways and we ran the saloons
We built all the bridges and we played all the tunes
We put out the fires and we ran city hall
Oh we started with nothing and wound up with it all

You would travel from King's Bridge, to Queens on the town
From High Bridge to Bayridge, from Uptown to Down
From the Eastside to the seaside, sweet summer scenes
We made New York City our island of dreams

Chorus
They were ever so happy, they were ever so sad
To grow old in the New World, through good times and bad
The parties and weddings, the ceilis and wakes
When New York was Irish, full of joy and heartaches

Now I look at the photographs, brittle with time
Of those people I've cherished when New York was mine
Oh how I love, their radiant smiles
How I long for the days when we danced in the isles


I can't tell you who wrote it.

Mick Bracken

Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish
From: Barry Finn
Date: 05 Mar 00 - 10:20 PM

If I can remember (which is doubtfull) I'll ask a friend whose sings this if he's got any more info on this, hopefully I'll see him this Wed. Good luck, it's a great song. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish
From: momnopp
Date: 05 Mar 00 - 10:33 PM

It's a Celtic Thunder song - I'll look up author (one of the Winch brothers?) I have the cassette in my car.

PS - See "The Washingtonian" for March, 2000 - whole article on the Irish in DC.

Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish
From: Peg
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 01:28 PM

Hi;
Barry mentioned our pal Connie often sings this at the singers' club. He ends the chorus with "All the parties and weddings, the ceilis and wakes/When New York was irish, full of joy and heartbreak" instead of "joy and heartaches."
peg

Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 06:57 PM

momnopp; When New York was Irish was indeed done by Celtic Thunder. Words and music by Terence Winch. Its a great song It's on the album the light of other days put out by Green Linnet Records, Irish Sergents.

Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 07:04 PM

Surely that last line should be "danced in the aisles"?

Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish
From: Brakn
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 08:12 PM

Ha! 10 out of 10 McGrath. Well spotted. Thanks.

Mick Bracken

Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 07 Mar 00 - 02:25 AM

Mick,

Would you happen to have the chords???

Mary

Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish
From:
Date: 19 Mar 00 - 01:11 AM

I got the lyrics - go raibh mille maith agat !

Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish
From: GUEST,Mree
Date: 23 Feb 05 - 02:58 PM

Amazing song! Thanx for the info, I'm using it on a school assignment. There's nothing like spreading Irish classics!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When New York Was Irish (Terence Winch)
From: GUEST,jeffrowan
Date: 08 Jan 08 - 06:51 PM

anyone have the chords the the shilelagh law version of this song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When New York Was Irish (Terence Winc
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 03:52 PM

It'd scan and sing just as well with Boston as with New York, and only the third verse would need a few place names adjusted.

(For a precedent there's "If we only has old Ireland over here" which exists in the original Australian version, and in an American versions with just that kind of adjustment.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When New York Was Irish (Terence Winch)
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Mar 09 - 12:23 PM

Oh, God, I love this song! I have been searching for it for years. Used to have a cassette tape with Pat Roper singing it...then, I couldn't remember the name...thanks so much, what a wonderful song!

Go mbeannaí Dia dhuit

Meggie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: When New York Was Irish (T Winch)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Sep 11 - 08:54 PM

I'm pleased to see all these comments about the song in this discussion, which I just stumbled upon. I have, at last count, 27 covers of the song in my iTunes library (not that I've ever made any money off it) and I'm delighted that it's been so popular. I wrote it primarily in memory of my parents, who came over in the 1920s. The word in the last line is indeed "aisles," not "isles." I also have to say that my least favorite version of the song is Shillelagh Law's. They're good musicians, but doing the song as a polka seems like the wrong approach to me.
---Terence Winch /www.terencewinch.com