Meaning of words in Danny Farrell

Subject: Tune Add: DANNY FARRELL
From:
Date: 27 Nov 98 - 06:42 PM

Tune not in database

MIDI file: FARRELL.MID

Timebase: 480

Tempo: 120 (375000 microsec/crotchet)
Key: C
TimeSig: 4/4 48 8
Name: DANNY FARRELL
Start
0000 1 72 127 0239 0 72 000 0001 1 72 090 1199 0 72 000 0001 1 72 090 0239 0 72 000 0001 1 74 090 0239 0 74 000 0001 1 76 127 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 76 090 1199 0 76 000 0001 1 76 090 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 74 090 0239 0 74 000 0001 1 72 127 0239 0 72 000 0001 1 67 090 0719 0 67 000 0001 1 72 120 0719 0 72 000 0001 1 74 090 0239 0 74 000 0001 1 76 127 1439 0 76 000 0001 1 76 090 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 76 090 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 79 127 0239 0 79 000 0001 1 79 090 0719 0 79 000 0001 1 77 120 0719 0 77 000 0001 1 76 090 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 76 127 0719 0 76 000 0001 1 76 090 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 76 120 0719 0 76 000 0001 1 77 090 0239 0 77 000 0001 1 74 127 0719 0 74 000 0001 1 67 090 0239 0 67 000 0001 1 67 120 0719 0 67 000 0001 1 67 090 0239 0 67 000 0001 1 67 127 1439 0 67 000 0001 1 62 090 0479 0 62 000 0001 1 72 127 0719 0 72 000 0001 1 72 090 0239 0 72 000 0001 1 72 120 0719 0 72 000 0001 1 74 090 0239 0 74 000 0001 1 76 127 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 76 090 1199 0 76 000 0001 1 74 090 0239 0 74 000 0001 1 76 090 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 77 127 0239 0 77 000 0001 1 77 090 0719 0 77 000 0001 1 77 120 0719 0 77 000 0001 1 79 090 0239 0 79 000 0001 1 76 127 1439 0 76 000 0001 1 74 090 0479 0 74 000 0001 1 72 127 0719 0 72 000 0001 1 72 090 0239 0 72 000 0001 1 72 120 0719 0 72 000 0001 1 74 090 0239 0 74 000 0001 1 76 127 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 76 090 1199 0 76 000 0001 1 77 090 0239 0 77 000 0001 1 76 090 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 74 127 0239 0 74 000 0001 1 74 090 0719 0 74 000 0001 1 72 120 0719 0 72 000 0001 1 71 090 0239 0 71 000 0001 1 72 127 1439 0 72 000 0001 1 76 090 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 77 090 0239 0 77 000 0001 1 79 127 0479 0 79 000 0001 1 76 090 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 77 090 0239 0 77 000 0001 1 79 120 0479 0 79 000 0001 1 76 090 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 77 090 0239 0 77 000 0001 1 79 127 0239 0 79 000 0001 1 79 090 0239 0 79 000 0001 1 81 090 0479 0 81 000 0001 1 79 120 0239 0 79 000 0001 1 77 090 0239 0 77 000 0001 1 76 090 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 76 090 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 77 127 0479 0 77 000 0001 1 74 090 0239 0 74 000 0001 1 76 090 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 77 120 0479 0 77 000 0001 1 74 090 0239 0 74 000 0001 1 76 090 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 77 127 0239 0 77 000 0001 1 77 090 0239 0 77 000 0001 1 79 090 0479 0 79 000 0001 1 77 120 0239 0 77 000 0001 1 76 090 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 74 090 0239 0 74 000 0001 1 79 090 0239 0 79 000 0001 1 79 127 0479 0 79 000 0001 1 76 090 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 77 090 0239 0 77 000 0001 1 79 120 0479 0 79 000 0001 1 76 090 0479 0 76 000 0001 1 79 127 0239 0 79 000 0001 1 79 090 0239 0 79 000 0001 1 79 090 0239 0 79 000 0001 1 81 090 0239 0 81 000 0001 1 79 120 0239 0 79 000 0001 1 77 090 0239 0 77 000 0001 1 76 090 0479 0 76 000 0001 1 74 127 0239 0 74 000 0001 1 74 090 1199 0 74 000 0001 1 74 090 0239 0 74 000 0001 1 76 090 0239 0 76 000 0001 1 77 127 0239 0 77 000 0001 1 77 090 0719 0 77 000 0001 1 72 120 0719 0 72 000 0001 1 74 090 0239 0 74 000 0001 1 72 127 3839 0 72 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:DANNY FARRELL
M:4/4
Q:1/4
K:C
c/c/-c-c c/d/|e/e/-e-ee/d/|c/G/-Gc3/2d/|
e3e/e/|g/g/-gf3/2e/|e3/2e/e3/2f/|d3/2G/G3/2G/|
G3D|c3/2c/c3/2d/|e/e/-e-ed/e/|
f/f/-ff3/2g/|e3d|c3/2c/c3/2d/|
e/e/-e-ef/e/|d/d/-dc3/2B/|
c3e/f/|ge/f/ge/f/|g/g/ag/-f/- e/e/|
fd/e/fd/e/|f/f/gf/-e/d/g/|ge/f/ge|
g/g/ g/a/ g/-f/-e|d/d/-d-d d/e/|f/f/-fc3/2d/|c4-|c4

% Output from ABC2Win Version 2.1 f on 11/27/98

Subject: Danny Farrell
From: phil jl
Date: 12 Sep 99 - 08:44 PM

This being my first posting I thought I had studied carefully the steps I should take - but I still stuffed up. Sorry for the posting wrong thread. Hopefully this is posting goes through correctly.

I'm unsure about some of the words in the song Danny Farrell. They are hard to understand in the Dubliner's recording and those in the database don't seem to quite make sense. Perhaps someone at Mudcat can help me.

In the second line of the first verse. What are 'worriors' ?

Last line, first verse. Should '..his travelling evil's clan' be '..the travelling people's plan' ?

Second line of chorus. Should '.. people please hater' be 'people police hater'

Third line of chorus. What is a 'gorier' ?

Second and third lines of second verse. The words in the DB don't seem right.

Last line, third verse. Should '..takers' be '..tinkers'

Thanks for a very interesting web site

Phil

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Danny Farrell
From: MudGuard
Date: 13 Sep 99 - 01:55 AM

Welcome, Phil.

You missed some steps!
When looking for lyrics, step 1 is to look at the database which has (at the moment) about 7,700 song lyrics.
You would have found theDANNY FARRELL lyrics (click here).
If step 1 fails to bring the result, step 2 is the forum search. On Main Forum Page (also called Forum Home), select in the Quick Link box the "Search the Forum" line and click on the "Go" button next to it.
If step 2 fails, too, then post a lyrics request.

MudGuard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Danny Farrell
From: phil jl
Date: 13 Sep 99 - 07:03 AM

I guess I must have phrased my question badly. I have found the words to the song in the database but I don't understand what some of them mean. If anyone can help me with this I'll be grateful.

I will also start another thread giving the subject as something like 'Meaning of words in Danny Farrell'.

At least I know my request was posted and someone read it - thanks Mudguard.

Phil

Subject: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: phil jl
Date: 13 Sep 99 - 07:15 AM

I started a thread earlier regarding the song Danny Farrell - I gave it the subject 'Lyr Req: Danny Farrell'. This may have given the impression that I am seeking the words where in fact I already have them - I just don't understand all of them. I have searched the Forum and found the tune but no other discussion.

My original request is as follows, if anyone can help I'll be grateful

I'm unsure about some of the words in the song Danny Farrell. They are hard to understand in the Dubliner's recording and those in the database don't seem to quite make sense. Perhaps someone at Mudcat can help me.

In the second line of the first verse. What are 'worriors' ?

Last line, first verse. Should '..his travelling evil's clan' be '..the travelling people's plan' ?

Second line of chorus. Should '.. people please hater' be 'people police hater'

Third line of chorus. What is a 'gorier' ?

Second and third lines of second verse. The words in the DB don't seem right.

Last line, third verse. Should '..takers' be '..tinkers'

Thanks for a very interesting web site

Phil

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Danny Farrell
From: MudGuard
Date: 13 Sep 99 - 09:02 AM

Sorry for not reading your posting correctly.
I think "worrior" is a typo and should be "warrior"
I don't know about the others

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 14 Sep 99 - 05:06 AM

Phil

"gurrier" is Dublin slang for a worthless person or ruffian. Usually used of children. I've seen it argued that it derives from the French "guerre" - but I don't believe a word of it!.

"travelling people" is a term for for what, in Ireland, have been variouisly called gypsies, tinkers, itinerants and travellers.

I suspect it's "He was lousy at the Gaelic" - referring to the compulsory teaching of the Irish language in schools.

"He was brilliant in the toss school" refers to a gambling game involving tossing coins towards a wall!

"There's no handouts here for tinkers" makes more sense.

"methylated spirits" is correct.
"on the quay"
"amadaun" is anglicised from an Irish word for "fool".

That's enough to be going on with!

Regards

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: phil jl
Date: 15 Sep 99 - 03:08 AM

Thanks Martin, you've filled in quite a few gaps. I'll keep looking and I'm sure the meaning of the rest will become clear.

Regards, Phil

Subject: Danny Farrell [Armerdon]
From: Warsaw Ed
Date: 11 Oct 02 - 05:37 PM

In a verse from Danny Farrell, he is called "Armerdon" the fool. Does anyone know what the word "Armerdon" refers to? I Can't find anything on the internet except for a reference back to the lyrics of Danny Farrell.

Subject: RE: Danny Farrell [Armerdon]
From: belfast
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 08:01 AM

The word is probably "amadán", gaelic for "fool". Mike Oldfield used a version of the word as the title of one of his pieces.

And I'm amazed that it took so long for you to get an answer on this site. Usually you get ten replies within seconds.

Subject: RE: Danny Farrell [Armerdon]
From: GUEST,allen woodpecker
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 09:15 AM

On the same subject, I have only Ronnie Drew's version and I can't fathom the line "He was brilliant in the (toss?) school at trading objects in the pawn". What the flippin' 'eck is the "toss" school? Is it Dublin slang, or am I mondegreening like a big mad eejit?
a.w.

Subject: RE: Danny Farrell [Armerdon]
From: belfast
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 09:53 AM

It's not as popular as it used to be but there was a game played here called "pitch and toss". It involves tossing a couple of pennies in the air and betting on the result. When I was a child it was common to see a group of men, mostly unemployed, gathered on a waste ground playing Pitch and Toss. The appearance of a single policeman would cause them to scatter. The times have changed.

I assume that nobody has any problem with the word "pawn" and the concept of a pawnshop. If you do, you've lived a far too sheltered life.

Subject: RE: Danny Farrell [Armerdon]
From: allanwill
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 10:33 AM

That game is called "two-up" in Australia, although it is more often than not played with three pennies. It is alive and well in Oz, to the point that it is even legal on Anzac Day, our annual memorial day.

Allan

Subject: RE: Danny Farrell [Armerdon]
From: Warsaw Ed
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 03:46 PM

THank you, belfast, for your response. If Mike Oldfield can get "Ommadawn" out of "amadan" (see quote below), I guess Pete St. John can get "armerdon" out of that word too! Any way, I'll ask Pete!
**********************
Meanings, Interpretations and Translations

4.1 What does "Ommadawn" mean?

Ommadawn is a phonetic spelling of Amadan, the Irish/Gaelic word for "idiot" or "fool". It was Clodagh Simonds who wrote the words she would
chant on the album. Obviously she had to make up some words quickly and the first thing that came into her head was:

"The cat is in the kitchen, drinking milk. I am the idiot singing."

When Mike saw or heard what she had sung he was curious about that word written as Ommadawn and then thought it would be a good name
for the album. Its working title up until then was Pickles On My Glockenspiel - I bet you're glad he changed that! Anyway, Ommadawn, strictly
speaking, has no meaning unless you know the truth behind the naming of the album. Mike divulged this to only a couple of journalists at the time
- the rest of the time he said it was just a nonsense word - it was just one of his ideas to remain mysterious.

And just to repeat it: Amadan (with an accent or "Fada" over the last 'a', to give the long 'a' in the "aw" sound) is Irish/Gaelic for fool.

By the way: more about what kind of fool Amadan is: The amadan are Irish fairie fools. They should be avoided as if touched by him, the victim
will be paralyzed down the side touched, or possibly paralyzed forever. Thus the amadan is sometimes called the stroke lad. He may strike
whomever he fancies, but criminals and those who linger by fairie haunts under moonlight are especially vulnerable, and is particularly active
during the month of June. The only protection against him is to call upon God. Amadan Mor and Amadan na Bruidne are the best known.

Also: nobody knows what Amadan means, so it was useful as a HIDDEN MESSAGE or something similar. This idea of hidden messages links
to Amarok (see 4.5 ) and the Morse codes (see 2.18 ), and also the fairytale (idiot, nincompoop).

Credit: Matthew J. Sorell, [e-mail] , Svend Aage Petersen, [e-mail] , Matthieu Dhennin, [e-mail] , Tom
English,[e-mail] , David Porter, [e-mail] , Jose Luis Gonzalez, [e-mail] , Chris Miller,
[e-mail] .

Subject: RE: Danny Farrell [Armerdon]
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 12 Oct 02 - 04:23 PM

Sorry, couldn't get through last night, but I'll send it all the same. Ed, with the upgraded Mudcat all you have to do is click on the first of the 'related threads' at the top. Or click here.

Subject: RE: Danny Farrell [Armerdon]
From: GUEST,allen woodpecker
Date: 13 Oct 02 - 11:12 AM

Many thanks, Belfast. Nice to see Belfast speaking with one voice for once! Heh, heh.
Peace and love
a.w.

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 06:47 AM

The Quays, is a district of Dublin, it is on the banks of the river Liffy, [a river which Guinness bottle and sell apparently ;)(joke)]
Now quite a smart place, which it wasn't in years gone by.
Webcam
Giok

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Emma B
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 06:53 AM

The words in the D.T are indeed very flawed and confusing. probably a prime example of "mondegreens"

I think Martin Ryan's explanation just about covers it!

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Mysha
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 07:53 AM

Hi,

No, some of Phil's questions are still left open.
- "williers", I think is an alternative wording for "Wellington boots", usually called "wellies". Except, I don't know if these were common for Travellers to wear.
- The explanations above combine into "his travelling people's clan", where "his" is used to indicate that Danny Farrell is himself a Traveller.

That leaves pph:
- "People, please"-hater? Dislikes having to ask the public for something - doesn't want to beg.
- "People place hater"? Dislikes going into busy places - prefers the open road.
- "People Police hater"?? Dislikes the police force of the People's Republic of China??

I'm still a bit curious about that one.

                                                                Mysha

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 07:58 AM

Yes I was always curious about those words, which I sing as 'people's police hater' although I'm not comfortable with them.
I take the word to be 'wellyer' or 'welliers' and to mean wellingtons, or as Billy Connolly says, wellies.
Giok

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Emma B
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 08:16 AM

a definition of "to police" from the Latin meaning "state" and Greek "city" is

"Regulation and control of the affairs of a community, especially with respect to maintenance of order, law, health, morals, safety, and other matters affecting the public welfare."

Many of the Travelling People (or Tinkers as they would be referred to by the settled community) would perceive themselves as both "outsiders" to and "victims" of an organization that policed people who did not conform to the state's regulations

as in Ewan McColl's "Freeborn Man of the Travelling People" from the Radio Ballad "The Travelling People"

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 08:17 AM

The only thing I can think of - and this is PURE guesswork on my part - is that Dubs often append "er" as a sort of familiar diminutive, e.g. "Mollser" for Molly, etc. (I suppose rather like saying Johnny for John.) Don't know if such things apply to Wellie boots or not!

It's a stab at it, anyway -

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 08:18 AM

Woops, cross-posted. Mine was meant for Giok's point.

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Mysha
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 09:02 AM

Hi Emma,

It's not that I have a problem understanding why Travellers would be less than fond of police; it's that I wonder about the pph wording. Was there such a thing as a "People Police" in what is supposed to be Danny Farrell's youth?

Or it could be:
- "people-police hater"? Dislikes citizens who apparently feel they have to "correct" the ways of others - prefers freedom.

                                                                  Mysha

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 09:14 AM

It did cross my mind that it might be papal police haters?
"Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest" sort of idea.
G

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: breezy
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 11:49 AM

ask Eric Bogle

I thought the song needed another verse and i suggested this to the author, he wrote back saying

'Write one'!

so I did

The song now scans and its brilliant

Eric's diction is much better for the purposes of trnscribing, but then we are all a little more mutton these days

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Effsee
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 12:00 PM

I'm a bit puzzled here breezy.
Why ask Eric Bogle? Has he recorded it?
I don't think Eric will be awfully well up on Dublin/Irish slang words.
The author (Pete St.John) told you to write an extra verse?
And "The song now scans and its brilliant" ...thanks to your extra verse?

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: breezy
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 12:03 PM

Yes but I think he did not write it, looks like I sent the original messge to the wrong man, should have been P St J


shit

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Effsee
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 12:05 PM

LOL!

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: breezy
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 12:05 PM

its still more brilliant though

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Effsee
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 12:11 PM

You're so modest!

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Effsee
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 12:13 PM

Why not post your extra verse here for consideration of brilliance or other wise! ;-)

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 12:45 PM

and shit again , got mixed up with Bogle's 'paddy's singing well tonight song'

Must be the cold weather

I have still made a modest song brilliant as with another that the author approved of, but the bushel decended.

Apologies for the confusion , comes after muttonness

You are most perceptive f c, I am modest, and far too bold to share my extra verse, which is brilliant.

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: breezy
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 12:47 PM

yes it was me. the modest one

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Effsee
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 12:48 PM

I used to be modest! Now I'm perfect!
I'm still not sure which song got the blessing of your extra verse.
Aw, go on, post it! :-)

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Shaneo
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 12:50 PM

''I have still made a modest song brilliant ''

Where is the modesty in Danny Farrell ?
Also lets have a look at that extra verse.

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 12:51 PM

He retracted Shaneo

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 12:53 PM

"welliers" is indeed common Dublin slang for wellington boots.

I'll need to check on the odd line in the chorus.

Regards

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 01:00 PM

The sense seems to be "People's Police" - hater i.e. one who hate's the polis! Where does the stress come in singing it, incidentally? Haven't heard it for a while.

Regards

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Shaneo
Date: 18 Nov 07 - 01:07 PM

To a Dubliner, there are no odd words in the song, these are just everyday words in Dublin.
I think The Dublin City Ramblers[D.C.R.] had Danny Farrell out as a single first.
At the time Pete St.John must of had some kind of special bond with the'Ramblers, because they seem to have got most of his songs first.

If ever there was a song that needed a key change Danny Farrell did, it's not very noticeably on the version on YouTube, but it's there near the end.
The original version By d.c.r. had drums and bass which made it sound much fuller and the key change was much more pronounced .

I have a copy of the original and wanted to put it on youtube but on Windows Media Player it said the file was protected, which means it cant be put on youtube, but I'm sure someone knows a way around this ?

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Mysha
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 06:02 PM

Hi Shaneo,

Assuming that you are one of those Dubliners, can I ask you to check whether the explanations above all fit, and to explain the last remaining problem, which sounds somewhat like "people please hater"?
Thanks,

                                                                   Mysha

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Shaneo
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 06:23 PM

It doesn't seem like a problem, as Martin Ryan above says Danny hates the police, or here in Ireland 'An Garda Siochana' which translates as, 'guardians of the peace'
He hates the garda, for whatever reason, maybe they are giving him grief for hanging around the streets drinking wine and beer.

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: GUEST,don one
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 06:51 PM

I too worried about the "people police hater" phrase. It doeasn't scan and I notice from the above discussion that local irish are not positive of its derivation.
Here is another song that I would like some help with:
Rosin or My Roisin was popular around 1988-89 in both ireland and Australia by a group called (I think) Barleycorn. Some lyrics were"... I know love and sadness when, I think of you Roisin..."
I can't find reference to it anywhere but I did hear it in both countries on the radio then. Can anyone help?
don

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Emma B
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 07:02 PM

It's on this CD
not found any lyrics yet

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: MartinRyan
Date: 20 Nov 07 - 07:11 PM

Don

The point of my enquiry as to how the line was STRESSED when sung, was that "POL-is" is often used as slang for police - and it scans!

Regards

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Mysha
Date: 21 Nov 07 - 11:59 AM

Hi,

Martin, sorry, I thought you meant to ask for the rhythm of the words, which I found hard to put into words. The reason we vary the writing of that word is that the stress is on the i/ie/ea/ee; there may be a syllable before that, or it may be that what we hear is merely the change from p to l.

Shaneo, yes, I expect we all understand what People Police hater would mean, but all the other words some of us couldn't make out, happen to be existing terms. So, does the Dublin dialect contain the term "People police"? If not, why doesn't he write "and a Garda hater" or "a peace guards hater"? (Has Pete St. John done these songs himself, BTW? I tend to hear the songs from different artists first, and only to find out later they're his.)

Don: Róisín was on The Last Farewell, which is included in the set Emma mentioned. Mary Black sings a song with the same title, but it need not be the same song.

                                                                Mysha

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Shaneo
Date: 21 Nov 07 - 12:38 PM

Lots of men in every country hate the police, it's a fact.
This is just Pete St. John's wording of the phrase,
He was probably looking for some word to rhyme with traitor.
Are you reading too much into the song ? di-secting it maybe ?
I'm not sure if Pete recorded the song himself, he does play
guitar and sing his own songs but not sure about recording.


I knew Danny Farrell when his football was a can
With his hand-me-downs and Welliers and his sandwiches of bran
But now that pavement peasant is a full grown bitter man
With all the trials and troubles of his travelling people's clan

He's a loser, a boozer, a me and you user
A raider, a trader, a people police hater
So lonely and only, what you'd call a gurrier
Still now, Danny Farrell, he's a man

I knew Danny Farrell when he joined the National School
He was lousy at the Gaelic, they'd call him amadán - a fool
He was brilliant in the toss school by trading objects in the pawn
By the time he was an adult all his charming ways had gone

I knew Danny Farrell when we queued up for the dole
And he tried to hide the loss of pride that eats away the soul
But mending pots and kettles is a trade lost in the past
"There's no hand-out here for tinkers" was the answer when he asked

He's a loser, a boozer, a me and you user
A raider, a trader, a people police hater
So lonely and only, what you'd call a gurrier
Still now, Danny Farrell, he's a man

I still know Danny Farrell, saw him just there yesterday
Taking methylated spirits with some wino's on the quay
Oh, he's forty going on eighty, with his eyes of hope bereft
And he told me this for certain, there's not many of us left

He's a loser, a boozer, a me and you user
A raider, a trader, a people police hater
So lonely and only, what you'd call a gurrier
Still now, Danny Farrell, he's a man

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Gulliver
Date: 21 Nov 07 - 10:10 PM

Shaneo, I'm glad you've posted a more correct version of this song-thanks.

Can anyone remove/replace the garbled version in the DT?

Don

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Declan
Date: 22 Nov 07 - 03:06 AM

Martin,

To answer your question the stress tends to be on the second half of the word Police the O is almost silent, which is why there is some confusion with the word Please. We're not talking about the Polis here.

I'd be in two minds as to whether the meaning is that DF hates people and the police or reserves his odium for the "people's police". (I don't recall ever hearing anybody pronouncing the 's'). Given that Danny is a bitter man, it may well be the former. So it could be that there should be an 'and' between people and police, except that definitely wouldn't scan.

As to scanning I think its just a slightly clumsy line, not one of Pete's best. I don't think putting the word garda in there would improve matters.

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: GUEST,don one
Date: 22 Nov 07 - 04:41 AM

Thanks to you all for your responses to both the people police line and the Roisin song from Barleycorn. Special thanks to Emma for actually posting the whole Barleycorn shabang. You would be amazed how deeply I have searched google for this without success!
As an australian with an irish background I can't get enough irish folk music. I think I may be a worse case than the genuine irish.
Thanks everyone.
don

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: GUEST,don one
Date: 28 Nov 07 - 01:15 AM

A happy ending
I just unwrapped the three volume Barleycorn album complete with Roisin as mentioned by Emma and Mysha above and sent from ireland to Oz by 'essentialirish' in double quick time.
thanks again all.
don

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: GUEST,Phil
Date: 28 Nov 07 - 03:15 AM

I started this thread about 8 years ago. I never did much with the song but recently I dragged it out again. The this thread has progressed prompted me to look again at the meaning of peoples police hater. I found several references to peoples police via Google and it appears to me that the term refers to police that have a political agenda. Peoples Police do their work as directed by the people (read the government) they don't heed justice.

Regards, Phil

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: GUEST,O'bit
Date: 29 Nov 07 - 12:51 AM

Like in China

Subject: RE: Meaning of words in Danny Farrell
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 29 Nov 07 - 02:58 AM

From the book ' The Fields Of Athenry ' the songs of Pete St. Johns.

it's " people police hater " NOT peoples police.

eric