Lyr Req: We're Only Here for Exploration

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We're Only Here for Exploration
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Apr 16 - 01:10 PM

Co-written with Morag Sylvester I believe
Barry Jones

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We're Only Here for Exploration
From: MartinRyan
Date: 13 Oct 14 - 01:17 PM

Archive recording of the great Tom Crean singing this at The Goilin Song Project:

Click here

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We're Only Here for Exploration
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Jun 10 - 06:34 PM

Just to clarify one point:

According to this Topic Discography (which I assume is authoritative) the song title is WE'RE ONLY HERE FOR EXPLORATION and not WE'RE ONLY OVER HERE FOR EXPLORATION (although the latter phrase does appear in the lyrics).

Subject: Lyr Add: WE'RE ONLY HERE FOR EXPLORATION
From: plnelson
Date: 12 Jun 10 - 09:06 PM

There's an Australian folklorist named Warren Fahey whose work was the subject of an ABC/RN programme.   His version (my transcription) is:

WE'RE ONLY HERE FOR EXPLORATION

Back home I courted Biddy O'Neil, the pride of Ballanisloe (?)
I had the Irish toothache, but Biddy answered no
'The man I marry', said Biddy, 'must have a bit of dough
And I hear they're payin' well for exploration'

Chorus
It's the spirit of adventure and the longing for to roam
That makes so many Irishmen to leave their native home
Some say it's for want of work that we are on the roam
Sure, we're only over here for exploration

Well I went upon safari and I came to Camden Town
I share a room for 30 bob where I lay me body down
With 7 other Irish gentlemen all searching for renown
And the landlord cries, 'Hurrah for exploration'

Chorus

We've explorers here from other lands arriving every day
Yellow Irishmen from Hong Kong and Paddies from Bombay
They're all true sons of Erin 'cause I've often heard 'em say
Sure we're they're only over here for exploration

Chorus

If you think that Ireland's short of work, you'd better change your mind
We have vacancies for clergymen and barmen all the time
We've Englishmen and Scotsmen arriving all the time
Leaving Paddy go away for exploration!

Chorus

So here we are in Ballarat, and we're all doin' grand
We've got ourselves fine property in this new promised land
We've found our gold since we've been here just blisters on our hands
Sure we're they're only over here for exploration

Chorus


(Peter Nelson)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We're Only Here for Exploration
From: GUEST,Vivienne
Date: 18 Nov 08 - 09:51 AM

Tomas Lynch's "Crux of the Catalogue" says
Words McCulloch/Kent/Campbell/Lenihan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We're Only Here for Exploration
From: MartinRyan
Date: 18 Nov 08 - 07:41 AM

It's a great song - and the in-joke of having Tom Crean sing it adds to it!

Regards
p.s. As I write, Google ads are cunningly offering me trips to Antarctica at the foot of this page...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We're Only Here for Exploration
From: The Doctor
Date: 18 Nov 08 - 05:37 AM

On The Exiles' LP it is sung by Paul Lenihan and the sleeve notes state that he was persuaded to perform it as he had a hand in writing it. Which still leaves open the question of ownership of the other hand, but it would seem to have been a joint effort.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: We're Only Here for Exploration
From: Fergie
Date: 17 Nov 08 - 07:59 PM

Hi all

I'd like to know who actually wrote this song. It's been attributed to Packie Manus Byrne by some and Paul Lenihan by others. Does anybody know for sure?

Fergus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Spirit of Adventure
From: Fergie
Date: 01 Sep 08 - 08:10 PM

Hi Martin

Some small differances but basically the same.

Fergus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Spirit of Adventure
From: MartinRyan
Date: 01 Sep 08 - 07:17 PM

He does indeed! Does he have a slightly different set of words? Some of the set above sounds unfamiliar.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Spirit of Adventure
From: Fergie
Date: 01 Sep 08 - 03:20 PM

Hi Stewie

Biddy was from Ballinasloe in Co. Galway. - Béal Átha na Slua or the "Mouth of the Ford of the Hosts"

bal-in-a-slow would be how it is pronounced.

I've heard this song sung a few times by Tom Crean at the Góilín Singers' Club in Dublin. Tom is a fine singer and he makes a great fist of this song.

Fergus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Spirit of Adventure
From: GUEST,tom guest
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 08:19 AM

Thanks everyone - that made my holiday tom

Subject: Lyr Add: WE'RE ONLY HERE FOR EXPLORATION
From: Stewie
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 03:09 AM

Oh, me of little faith: I found it quite easily because, luckily, it was near the top of the heap.

Below is my transcription. I don't know what the Irish place name is whereof Biddy is the pride. I have put what it sounds like - perhaps some kind Paddy can correct.

A slang dictionary informs me that an 'Irish toothache' is an erection.

Although it has 'over here' in the chorus line, the Topic discography gives the title sans 'over'.

I have no idea whether Jim's attribution to Paul Lenihan is correct or not.

WE'RE ONLY HERE FOR EXPLORATION

Back home I courted Biddy O'Neil, the pride of Ballanisloe (?)
I had the Irish toothache, but Biddy answered no
'The man I let', said Biddy, 'must have a bit of go
And I hear they're payin' well for exploration'

Chorus
It's the spirit of adventure and the longing for to roam
That makes so many Irishmen to leave their native home
Some say it's for the want of work that we are on the roam
Sure, we're only over here for exploration

I went upon safari and I came to Camden Town
I share a room for 30 bob where I lay me body down
With 7 other Irish gentlemen searching for renown
And the landlord cries, 'Hurrah for exploration'

Chorus

There's explorers here from other lands arriving every day
Smoked Irishmen from Trinidad and Paddies from Bombay
They're all true sons of Erin for I've often heard it say (sic)
That they're only over here for exploration

Chorus

If you think that Ireland's short of work, you'd better change your mind
We have vacancies for clergymen and barmen all the time
We have Japanese and Germans, they're workin' overtime
Singin', Irelande, Mother Irlande, uber alles

Chorus

And in school they taught us history, the English they were cruel
We never let them get on top for freedom was our rule
And here's to De Valera, the man who saw us through
And left Paddy to get on with exploration

Chorus

Source: transcription from The Exiles 'Freedom Come All Ye' Topic 12T143.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Spirit of Adventure
From: Stewie
Date: 02 Jan 04 - 02:12 AM

Enoch Kent recorded 'We're only over here for exploration' with his group The Exiles on their album 'Freedom, Come All Ye' Topic LP 12T143. I don't know whether it has been reissued on CD. I have a cassette of it somewhere in a huge bin of jumbled cassette tapes gathered over decades so I wouldn't hold out much hope of finding it in a hurry. I will have look though. At least, this will bring your request back to the top, and someone may have the album.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Spirit of Adventure
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Jan 04 - 02:45 AM

Here's a German web site that mentions a song called WE'RE ONLY OVER HERE FOR EXPLORATION in an article about Enoch Kent, a Scots-Canadian. Click here for a Google translation. If I understand correctly—and I'm not sure I do—it says Paul Lenihan wrote the song. Enoch Kent's own web site doesn't mention a song by that name, although it says he has sung songs by Paul Lenihan.

I suspect that German site got the title wrong, and instead just quoted a line from the song—but I can't figure out what the correct title is. Tom, maybe you can look at Enoch Kent's discography and recognize something.

Subject: lyrreq Spirit of adventure
From: GUEST,guest tom
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 08:15 PM

I'm trying to get the lyrics for this song I used to hear around the folk scene a few years back.It sounds as if it might have been written by Packie Manus Byrne. The tune is the same as The Banks of the Roses. The chorus is:

It's the spirit of adventure and the loving for to roam
that makes so many Irishmen to leave their native home
Some say it is for want of work that we are on the road
but we're only over here for exploration

Can anyone help?