Lyr Req: McClory (Pete St. John)

Subject: Lyrics to Mclorey by Pete St. John
From: GUEST,R Murphy
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 01:53 PM

Would anybody have the lyrics to the song McLorey written by Pete St. John. The chorus goes like this: I took the train to Belfast, first time in fifteen years, for to see my friend McLorey and enjoy the crack and beers..... I'd appreciate it if someone could post it or email it to me at [e-mail].

Thanks,

R Murphy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics to Mclorey by Pete St. John
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 02:17 PM

Found several of his songs but not this one. His e mail is on his home page; [e-mail] You could ask him if no one here knows them. Pete St. John home page.

Subject: Lyr Add: MCCLORY (Pete St. John)
From: Indy Lass
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 11:12 PM

I bought a tape at the Milwaukee Irish Festival a few years back and since then gave it away, but I think the title was Somgs from County Down, but I dont' remember the artist. I bought it just for a song called 'McClory' because it is my mother in law's maiden name. And I did write down the words. Sorry but don't know html:

I took a train to Belfast, firt time for fifteen years--
To see my friend McClory and enjoy the crack and beers--
Nostalgia made me mellow, and the whiskey brought the tears--
When the barman said "McClory; haven't seen him round in years.

Where is he then I said to him, where is that friend of mine?--
That hard man who once sang the (sasch?) in Saskatchewan's--
That laggan' lovin' shipyard son who took the plane with me--
Away from Belfast daydreams in the days of sixty-three.

There were times with that McClory, we could not see eye-to-eye--
So we traded friendly insults, and we were not afraid to cry--
The papers damned the ???, and all we had was snow--
Two Irishmen so different in a land we didn't know

(repeats first verse)

Sure he's been gone since eighty, said a tucker(?) drinking brew--
On a promise to Autrailia there waw no one left he knew--
The guns and bombs near broke his heart not knowing right from wrong--
I went silent to the station, there was more than McClory gone

(repeats first verse again and ends).

I took the words off the tape so some might be in error. The weren't printed in the liner notes. But hope this gets you further along!

Subject: LYR ADD:McClory, Pete St. John
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 11:21 PM

That's got to be it. I'll ask a JoeClone to put in the line breaks. Thanks, Indy Lass!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics to Mclorey by Pete St. John
From: Indy Lass
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 11:24 PM

You're very welcome. Glad I could provide some lyrics since I've gotten so many I'd been looking for from the marvelous Mudcat forum!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics to Mclorey by Pete St. John
From: GUEST,R Murphy
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 12:57 PM

Thanks for posting the lyrics. I appreciate you taking the time to do so. I will try to come up with the guitar chords. I know how the song goes so I'll just add the chords to match my dreadful voice. Thanks again

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lyrics to Mclorey by Pete St. John
From: mike putt
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 04:00 PM

I have a great true story about Pete St John. Some time ago I was looking for the words to another Pete St John song "the furey man" and I tried the mudcat to no avail but I was given the website and I mailed Pete with my request. The next day I was at work and I got a missed call on my mobile ( cell phone ) so I rang back and asked if somebody rang and this is what happened. " Hi did you ring me a few minutes ago". "Who is this."" Mike Putt"" Hi Mike this is Pete St John." "Jesus Christ."" No Pete St John" and so the conversation went and he offered to talk the words onto a tape and send them on to me. What a man

Subject: ADD: McClory (Pete St. John)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 01 Aug 09 - 08:54 PM

Here's a transcription with a few corrections.


McCLORY
(Pete St. John)

I took a train to Belfast, first time for fifteen years,
To see my friend McClory and enjoy the crack and beers.
Nostalgia made me mellow, and the whiskey brought the tears,
When the barman said, "McClory, haven't seen him 'round for years."

"Where is he, then," I said to him, "Where is that friend of mine?--
That hard man who once sang the Sash in Saskatchewan's foul clime,
That Lagan lovin' shipyard son who took the plane with me,
Away from Belfast daydreams in the days in Sixty-Three."

There were times with that McClory, we could not see eye-to-eye,
So we traded friendly insults, and were not afraid to cry.
An ill-matched pair of Paddies, and all we had was snow--
Two Irishmen so different in a land we didn't know.

"Sure, he's been gone since '80," said a docker, drinking brew--
"On a promise to Australia, there was no one left he knew--
The guns and bombs fair broke his heart, not knowing right from wrong."
I went silent - and to the station, there was more than McClory gone!


Source: The Fields of Athenry: Songs of Pete St. John (Soodlum)

(tune available upon request)