The Cuckoo Fleadh by Pinetop Slim

There's a dijiridoo from the land of the kangaroo
And it's hummin' while some rasta man plays ska
It's a waste o' space, says the smilin' guitar ace
What's this dredlock rhythm bash at the fleadh
But the beat goes on 'til the day is done.
No one's sayin' No to music here.

We know Jackie Daley's name from Patrick Street acclaim
Around here he's a neighbor, he's a friend
And it's a pumpin' squeezebox scene
At a tiny pub called Green's
We're all hopin' that the session never ends.
And the night slips away on the slides he plays
No one's sayin' No to music here.

Chorus:
Along Kinvara Bay, first weekend in May
For three days this is where the cuckoo flies
To the pubs along the quay, the great ones come to play
For three days we feel the cuckoo's cheer.

Across the silver strings of his magic mandolin
Colfer's OfftoCalifornia touch is gold
Here's a song from Mulligan, then all join in the jam
Concertina, bodhrans and a piper bold
Ancient tunes play on 'til it's damn near dawn
No one's sayin' No to music here.

At the Merriman Hotel, Carson's playin' bloody well
But the horny crowd wants no hornpipes tonight
So he cuts loose with some pop, his trio gives 'em what they got
Kids are dancin' as we fall out the door
Woozy feet waltz on 'til the last pint's gone
No one's sayin' No to boozin' here.

(Chorus)

Coda :
From Connolly's to Flatley's
From the Pierhead to the Shawl
And don't forget good Winkle's, where Moylan rolled this ball
It's the Cuckoo Fest, and you'll get no rest
Your ears say you've got to hear it all
Your ears say you've got to hear it all
Your ears say…

Copyright ©2000 Mark Flanagan.