What a great idea for a thread. Thanks, Allison.

I'll be playing with old friends and compatriots in Seattle over the course of the St. Patrick's weekend and day. Fortunately, the first gig is a concert so I get to do the slow stuff that's tough on the day itself.

A song I can't START St. Patrick's Day without is the U.S. national anthem. I introduce myself and the song by saying it's a traditional opening song set to the tune of an old drinking song, then sing a sean nos version of the Star Spangled Banner. The first year I tried it I was sure there would be dead silence then loud guffaws, accompanied by mass exodus. To my delight and surprise the entire pub, full to the gills, sang it in full throat. Haven't started without it since.

A few of my other "got to do it today"

Foggy Dew(Rebel version) Song For Ireland Green Fields of Canada(my favorite song to sing, period) Kilkelly Men Behind the Wire Mo Ghile Mear Lannigan's Ball McGinty's Meal and Ale(yeah, so it's Scottish) Green Fields of France Raglan Road Parting Glass Peeler and the Goat Dun Cow Paddy Lay Back St. Patrick Was a Gentleman My Name is Jock Stewart Easy & Slow Lily of the West Rocky Road to Dublin Monto Teddy Bear's Head Finnegan's Wake British Army Black & Tans Rambling Rover(Andy Stewart, yeah, I know it's Scottish ,too) Barrett's Privateers & Mary Ellen Carter(Stan Rogers) There Were Roses(I gotta be up for this, it kills me everytime, but a good answer to the rebel songs if you're conscious is bothering you).

RE: PC. I don't have much trouble with rebel songs. They are mostly from historical periods and for me celebrate people who have been willing to give all for what they believe in. I don't think it is an endorsement of current terrorist tactics. It does concern me some though, and I worry that some day I'm going to hurt someone in the audience who has lost a friend, relation, or ancestor to rebel violence. Funny thing is, I really consider myself more of a traditional English folk singer than Irish, though my repertoire is about 1/3 Irish, 1/3 English, 1/3 Scottish, with some Aussie, American, and tons of sea shanties(that at one time having been my speciality). Yeah, I know that doesn't add up to 100:) At the same time that I identify more personally with English stuff, I realize that the traditional rebel stuff alone has made my more Republican(Irish, not American) in my emotional views. My intellectual ideas are much more conflicted, other than being optimistic that a way to peace will be found one day - hopefully soon. But I do notice that I don't sing any Protestant songs of force. And a final note, I like to sing Rebel songs because they have in abundance an edge, a passion, which is the element of song, in any genre, that I am attracted to sing.

My, I could just go on. Throw in the lot of Australian, Scottish and English songs. Truth is, I use St. Patrick's Day, since it's a long gig, to sing every damn song I know! I don't do the Irish Eyes stuff, not because I object to it, but because I don't do it well, not my style, and there's usually some good tenor in the crowd who can pull it off, even besotted, better than I.

I'm new to this forum(though I've had a downloaded DigiTrad for a year or so) and haven't figured out how or if there is a way to address any of you individually or if there is another way to chat beside these threads. In any case I am glad to have found you.

Marc B Marcbridge@aol.com