Lyr Req: I.R.E.L.A.N.D. / What Ireland Means to Me

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I.R.E.L.A.N.D. / What Ireland Means to Me
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 07 Mar 15 - 05:50 AM

Surely one of the most truly dreadful songs my fellow Irishmen ever came up with

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I.R.E.L.A.N.D. / What Ireland Means to Me
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 05 Mar 15 - 02:11 AM

Not a parody, but a separate song written by Dermot Henry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I.R.E.L.A.N.D. / What Ireland Means to Me
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Mar 15 - 01:15 AM

I wonder if the above song began as a parody of this old sentimental song:

THAT'S HOW I SPELL I-R-E-L-A-N-D, sung by Morton Downey.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I.R.E.L.A.N.D. / What Ireland Means to Me
From: PoppaGator
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 11:41 AM

The reference to "TV" indicates just how recently this song was written. Is the composer known?

Subject: Lyr Add: I.R.E.L.A.N.D.
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 07:59 AM

Copied from http://www.kilkennybedandbreakfast.com/ireland_song.htm
(It's at numerous other places on the Internet.)

I.R.E.L.A.N.D.

Come all ye lads and lassies and sit you down with me,
And I will tell the truth about a land that's dear to me.
You've read it in the papers and you've seen it on TV,
But I will spell it out for you, what Ireland means to me:

CHORUS: I is for internment of the innocent and free.
R is for resistance to the laws of tyranny.
E is for the English who have torn our land apart.
L is for the love of freedom in every Irish heart.
A is for the answer we're all searching for.
N is for one nation and an end to this long war.
D is for the dream of millions longing to be free.
That's how I spell Ireland. That's what Ireland means to me.

This land was once respected for its saints and scholars too,
But now the bomb and bullet that's all that makes the news.
I know that it's confusing and it's hard to understand,
But I will spell it out for you by spelling Ireland. CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What Ireland Means to Me - 2nd verse
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 04 May 04 - 11:43 PM

It's not what was requested, but there is this old sentimental song with nearly the same title:

THAT'S WHAT IRELAND MEANS TO ME
Words, Joe Goodwin. Music, James F. Hanley. 1917.

VERSE: You ask me why I always talk of Erin
And why I love that island in the sea.
Just listen and I'll try my best to tell you
What dear old Ireland means to me.

CHORUS: What raindrops mean to flowers while they're blooming,
What dollies mean to little girls at play,
What moonlight means to lovers honeymooning,
What home sweet home means when you're far away,
What gladness means to hearts bogged down in sorrow,
What music means to those who cannot see,
The love that first you knew when your mother smiled at you,
That's what Ireland means to me.

[The Virtual Gramophone has two recordings: one by Henry Burr (1917) and one by Harry McClaskey (1918).]

Subject: Need - What Ireland Means to Me - 2nd verse
From:
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 10:01 PM

WHAT IRELAND MEANS TO ME has two verses and a chorus that spells out Ireland. The second verse starts

This land was once respected for its saints and scholars too...

- we need the rest of the lyrics.

The chorus is:

I is for internment of the innocent and free
R is for resistance to the laws of tyranny
E is for the English who have torn our land apart
L is for the love of freedom in every Irish heart
A is for the answer that we're all searching for
N is for one nation and an end to this long war
D is for the dreams of millions longing to be free
That's how I spell Ireland, that's what Ireland means to me.