Lyr Req: You're Not Irish! (Robbie O'Connell)

Subject: You're not Irish!
From: Wavestar
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 09:35 AM

As long as you knowledgeable and patient people are telling me things I've always wanted to know...

I'm looking for an amusing fold song I remember hearing as a child, of which I remember a fair chunk of the chorus:

You're not Irish, you can't be Irish, You don't know "Danny Boy" Or "Tirra Lirra Lirra," or even "Irish Eyes" ...

it's the story of an irishman who comes to the states and sings, and is reviled because all he knows are real Irish songs they have never heard...

Anyone heard it?

Cheers, J

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 09:48 AM

Had you seen this thread?

EXCERPT

Subject: RE: St. Patrick's Day favourites From: leprechaun Date: 22-Feb-98 - 02:36 AM

I heard a song on the radio about an Irish musician who comes to America and everywhere he goes to play music, the people get mad because he doesn't play "real Irish" songs. The chorus went: "You're not Irish, you can't be Irish, you don't know Danny Boy, nor TooRaLooTaLooRa, or even Irish Eyes. You've got a hell of a nerve to say you came from Ireland. Now cut out all the nonsense and sing MacNamara'a Band."

Subject: Lyr Add: YOU'RE NOT IRISH (Robbie O'Connell)^^
From: fulurum
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 11:34 AM

YOU’RE NOT IRISH
(Robbie O'Connell)

When first I came to the USA with my guitar in hand,
I was told that I could get a job singing songs from Ireland.
So I headed up to Boston. I was sure to be all right.
But the very first night I got on the stage, I was in for a big surprise.
They said…

CHO: “You’re not Irish. You can't be Irish. You don't know Danny Boy,
Or Toora Loora Loola, or even Irish Eyes.
You've got a hell of a nerve to say you came from Ireland,
So cut out all the nonsense and sing McNamara’s Band.”

To tell the truth, I got quite a shock and I didn't know what to say,
So I sang a song in Gaelic. I thought that might win the day.
But they looked at me suspiciously and I didn’t know what was wrong.
Then all of a sudden they started to shout, “Now sing a real Irish song.” CHO.

The next day I was on my way. For Chicago I was bound.
I was ready to give it another try and not let it get me down.
From the stage they looked quite friendly, but I hardly sung one word
When a voice called out from the back of the room, and what do you think I heard? CHO.

Now I’ve travelled all around the country, but it’s always been the same.
From LA to Philadelphia and from Washington to Maine.
But sometimes now I wonder if it’s a secret society.
And it doesn't matter wherever I go they'll be waiting there for me,
Saying…CHO.
^^
Words and music by Robbie O’Connell, 1985.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: Wavestar
Date: 17 Feb 00 - 01:34 PM

thank you both for helping me with that... I'll entertain the circle with it next week. Cheers -J

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: alison
Date: 17 Feb 00 - 09:57 PM

what's the tune?... good song

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: fulurum
Date: 17 Feb 00 - 11:55 PM

macnamaras band-somewhat

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: JedMarum
Date: 17 Feb 00 - 11:56 PM

good lyrics, and a bit true, somehow.

I have played a few places after the act before me has played the popular Irish drinking songs and then I walk out and sing "Grace" or other historical based songs to a bewildered audience! Some crowds don't have much experience with the broad spectrum of Irish music.

I pity the poor bastard who'd try to sing a love song in Irish language, to a large drunk South Boston pub crowd. I've been there. I didn't go back!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: alison
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 01:01 AM

great thanks

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: InOBU
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 10:47 AM

Funny, I used to play with a band in Dingle, and that was our stock reply when asked by tourests to play Danny Boy etc. - no, sorry we are an Irish band -
Larry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: Molly Malone
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 11:44 AM

A friend of mine wrote the greatest parody (I'm not biased) of Danny Boy to date...It's called Danny Boy RIP. Their CD comes out in March. :) I'd post the lyrics, but I seem to screw up the formatting every time. :P

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: Marymac90
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 12:46 PM

Molly M-I know diddley about html, but I do know that if you double space between lines of the song, it'll come out in lines, not a paragraph. It takes up extra space, with all those skipped spaces, but it doesn't take remembering anything clever!

Mary McCaffrey

Subject: Lyr Add: DANNY BOY, REST IN PIECES
From: Molly Malone
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 01:39 PM

I met him in a pub one night
In a crowd of Well-to-do's
He had a claudagh (sp?)on each finger
And a shamrock on each shoe.
And when he said Top o' the Mornin'
My heart was filled with dread.
Well he said his name was Danny Boy
So I shot him in the head.

Raise up a cheer and lift your pints
and hold them way up high.
And sing a song of tragedy beneath the irish sky.
From the glen the pipes are calling,
But he never will reply.
For I buried Danny Boy beneath
the fields of Athenry.

Tu-ra-lu
Tu-ra-lu
Tu-ra-lay
Tu-ra-Lay
I thought I might drop him in Gallway Bay.
Tu-ra-lu
Tu-ra-lu
Tu-ra-lye
Tu-ra-Lye
Well I buried Danny Boy beneath
the fields of Athenry.

Well the guarda, they fell upon me
And they took away my gun.
And a hush fell o'er the crowd
When they saw what I had done.
Said the guardah, "God forgive me,
For I'm sure in hell to burn."
Then he shot poor Danny once again
To make sure he won't return.

Chorus

Well, some call me a hero
And some call me a fiend.
But they still sing his sad ol' song
While drinking beer dyed toxic green.
But my sentence, it was commuted.
It seems I'm off scott free.
Well, I think I'll have another pint
And wait for Michael Flatly.

Chorus

^^
Copyrighted 1998 Shay Vino
The Clare Voyants

Someone want to add this one to the database?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: Molly Malone
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 01:41 PM

Sorry, the title for the above is Danny Boy, Rest in Pieces.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: Clifton53
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 05:21 PM

How true, how true, I've been asked for Danny Boy on more than one occaision, I always say "I can't hit the high notes, so sit down and drink yer bloody green beer", or "Take off that plastic green DARBY and we'll talk".

But the folks seem to be catching on nowadays.....

Clifton53

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: Molly Malone
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 05:30 PM

I didn't even know Danny Boy until I intentionally learned it last month...no one does it any more because everyone kept asking for it.

Now I'll do it for little old ladies and a twenty. :) People find out you are doing it, and you'll have to do it all day long.

I sing the first part of it just before we go into the version above and you can see people go, "Ahhhhhhh." Then we get into the other version (above) and sometimes people really get upset. :)

Maybe we should start a Danny Boy thread and see what happens...or has that been done? ;)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: Clifton53
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 05:36 PM

There is nothing wrong with "Danny Boy", probably one of the greatest songs of any culture, but if you can't do it justice you should leave it alone.And if done right and it doesn't tear yer heart out, then you don't have one. Incidentally, it is revered on both sides of the wire.

Clifton53

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: Molly Malone
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 05:42 PM

I can. But I don't like to do the same song more than 5 times a day.;)

You're right though, it's a beautiful song, just not something that fits everyone's range.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: alison
Date: 19 Feb 00 - 12:02 AM

Molly, what's the tune for the song?

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: Molly Malone
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 03:02 PM

Unfortunately, it's an original tune, so I'll have to find a way to get a midi created...or you can get their CD in March...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: GUEST,Rich(stupidbodhranplayer.....)
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 06:03 PM

Molly, Much thanks for posting the Danny Boy RIP song! It's great. As far as You'r not Irish, I always get a kick out the fact that the song usually gets a favorable reaction from the very people it's making fun of. Anybody know any anti-unicorn songs? Well at any rate, here's wishing you all a Danny-Boy-free March Slainte Rich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Feb 00 - 07:44 PM

There was a thread back a little with Enda Kenny's Don't ask me to sing the wild rover", which more or less sums up this situation.

And the laugh is that "The Wild Rover" wasn't even an Irish song to start with, it was collected in Norfolk a few years back.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 05:34 PM

Molly

For "claudagh" read "Claddagh" - and the first "a" is pronounced quite hard: Clad - ah, or thereabouts. As you may know, its a type of ring named after what was originally a fishing village just outside Galway.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: Molly Malone
Date: 22 Feb 00 - 05:50 PM

I know...I just can't ever remember how to spell the dmn thing. Of course, I can't spell anything in Gaelic! I wish someone in Phoenix would teach it.

Subject: Lyr Add: YOU'RE NOT IRISH (Robbie O'Connell)^^
From: Genie
Date: 23 Aug 01 - 11:40 AM

After O'Connell's lyric shere, fomatting them and making some spelling corrections, etc., I thought I might as well share that with y'all. (How do you say "y'all" in Gaelic?)

I still don't know the exact tune, but, per a note above, I found it can be sung to the tune of MacNamara's Band. (I'd still like to get O'Connell's tune, though.)

YOU'RE NOT IRISH
words & music by Robbie O'Connell ©1985

When first I came to the USA with my guitar in hand,
I was told that I could get a job singing songs from Ireland,
So I headed up to Boston--I was sure to be all right--,
But the very first night I got on the stage, I was in for a big surprise! They said,

chorus:
"You're not Irish, you can't be Irish--you don't know "Danny Boy"
Or "Toora Loora Loora," or even "Irish Eyes."
You've got the hell of a nerve to say you came from Ireland,
So cut out all the nonsense and sing MacNamara's Band!"

To tell the truth, I got quite a shock and I didn't know what to say,
So I sang a song in Gaelic -- I thought that might win the day,
But they looked at me suspiciously and I didn't know what was wrong.
Then, all of a sudden, they started to shout, "Now, sing a real Irish song!"
chorus

The next day I was on my way; for Chicago I was bound.
I was ready to give it another try and not let it get me down.
From the stage they looked quite friendly, but I hardly sang one word
When a voice called out from the back of the room,
And what do you think I heard?
chorus

Now, I've travelled all around the country, but it's always been the same
From L A to Philadelphia and from Washington to Maine,
But sometimes now I wonder if it's a secret society,
And it doesn't matter, wherever I go, they'll be waiting there for me, saying,
chorus
^^

Line Breaks <br> added.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: GUEST,PeteBoom (at work)
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 08:54 AM

Ya know, play Danny Boy just ONCE bluegrass style (it helps having ecclectic banjo and mando players in the band) and they NEVER ask for Danny Boy again.

As far as the unicorn thing (shudder) we tell people we'll do it for a twenty a man (thus, a nice round hundred up front) if THEY get up and do the kiddie motions to the song. That has not worked only ONCE in five years.

Love both songs posted here... hee hee hee...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 12:45 PM

I made my first visit to Ireland the last couple of weeks, and I had a hard time finding traditional Irish music. The pubs we went to had audiences that were mostly Irish, but the music was mostly Country and Euro-pop. After singing a hideous song called "Bakersfield," one band did "Black Velvet Band" and dedicated it to the Americans in the audience. I suppose there was a 25 percent mix of the sentimental Irish standards with the pop and country, but I didn't get to the good stuff until Martin Ryan led me in the right direction on my second-last day.
I was with a group of friends from church, and I'll admit that traveling with a group limits your flexibility and your ability to find music and conversation. I usually travel alone, so it was a nice change to go with friends this time.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 31 Oct 02 - 12:14 AM

Did anyone ever figure out the tune to Danny Boy, Rest in Pieces ?

JAB

Subject: Lyr Add: LEPRECHAUN (AH! YOU'RE NO IRISH LADDIE)
From: Freso
Date: 31 Oct 02 - 12:40 PM

Just in spirit of the lyrics posted here, I though I might add this one song, by Mark Gunn:

LEPRECHAUN (AH! YOU'RE NO IRISH LADDIE)

There's a Leprechaun in me head, and I wish that I were dead
For I don't think he'll e'er let me be.
Oh, he tempts me with his gold, and if I were e'er so bold,
I'd strangle him and leave him in the street.

Well, he says to me, "Ah, you're no Irish Laddie!
And ye call that thing a harp?"
But each time I share the lore that I am learning.
He hides in shame while my friends they chant.

La ta tee, da diddley dee, la ta tee ta tee da
La ta tee, da diddley diddley dai
La ta tee, da diddley dee, la ta tee ta tee da
La ta tee, da diddley diddley dai

There's a leprechaun in my room. He swats me with a broom.
That's the reason I forget the words of this song.
Well, he shows me a four-leaf clover, and before me song is over,
It's buried in a bowl of Lucky Charms.

Ther'es a leprechaun on the floor, and he says that I'm a bore.
He yawns aloud as I sing my song.
He feigns one last breathe stolen, but I see his eyes are open.
And he's watching me with envy deep inside.

There's a leprechaun on a hill, and his gold is buried there.
So I grab him by the neck 'fore he gets away.
The pot's too heavy, he giggles, so I pinch me just a little,
And he thinks he's fooled me as I run away.

--
Background, key, and source of lyrics here! Enjoy! :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: alison
Date: 31 Oct 02 - 07:34 PM

is there a tune for that one Fresco?

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're not Irish!
From: Freso
Date: 01 Nov 02 - 02:55 AM

First off: There's nay 'c' in me name...

Second: There is, and if you go to the blue clicky I made in the previous post, you can download an .mp3 of the song from mp3.com, or you can just click on this blue clicky to go to its (the song's) mp3.com-page *grin*
The chords are here, as well as on the mp3.com page :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're Not Irish! (Robbie O'Connell)
From: RowanGolightly
Date: 07 Oct 08 - 10:22 PM

Does anybody know how to contact Shay Vino to get permission to perform this song? My band, Queen's Gambit, would love to do it but we're particular about getting permission first. I tried to contact him through a google-found performance he's going to be at this year but got no response from the venue.

We performed "Danny Boy" by request at a Renaissance faire show this past weekend and were pleasantly surprised to find a $20 tip in the basket. We joked that this "made us finally a real Celtic band!"

We like our arrangement of it but would love to add the humor of "Danny Boy: Rest in Pieces" to our repertoire

Rowan Golightly
www.queens-gambit.com

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: You're Not Irish! (Robbie O'Connell)
From: Beer
Date: 07 Oct 08 - 11:05 PM

Wavestar, here is a Youtube of the song you requested.
Beer (adrien)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnHn8jWUTIM