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Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly

23 Feb 09 - 09:34 AM (#2573698)
Subject: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: Brakn

A friend has asked me about this song but I can't say that I've ever heard it. Can anyone help?

This is all they remember. Gooogle turns up nothing.

It was in the springtime when the snow was going
and a cold wind blowing, that we laid him down.
People crying for a dream was dying
And the lights went out in old dublin town.

chorus.
Oh this old city can be grey or pretty
And the river Liffey can be blue or brown.
Friends were gathered some with stockings laddered
Some with purple cassocks some of great renown.

many thanks
Michael

23 Feb 09 - 10:09 AM (#2573723)
Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: THE DUBLIN MINSTREL (O'Donoghue)
From: quokka

I don't know if this is what you're looking for but it's a bit similar... Attributed to O'Donoghue....does anyone have any more info?

THE DUBLIN MINSTREL

From[C] Dublin[F] streets and roads and down the years
Came grea[C]t musicians and balla[G]deers
There was a[C] special one, a red-haired[F] minstrel boy
And when he[C] passed away, a city[G] mourned its favorite[C] son
[Chorus]
All[C] around the markets and down the[F] quays
The sad[C] news spread to the liber[G]ties
The minstrel[C] boy is gone; he'll sing no[F] more,
And[G] Luke somehow[C] we know, we'll never see your likes again.

He liked to laugh and sing, he loved a jar
And his songs rang out in many city bars
I walked by the old canal near which he used to live
Down Raglan Road I'm sad as he'd so much left to give

Now the show is over; the curtain's down
A flame no longer burns in Dublin Town
While the Liffey flows beneath the Ha'penny Bridge
You'll be remembered, Luke, for all your songs and all you did.

Cheers,

Quokka

23 Feb 09 - 10:12 AM (#2573729)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: bubblyrat

There's a very good song about Luke Kelly on the Dubliners 25 years anniversary album.

23 Feb 09 - 10:44 AM (#2573756)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: Jack Campin

"American Pie" has a lot to answer for.

If there is any subgenre of folk music which is so uniformly toecurlingly twee as to drive any normal listener out of the room screaming, it's songs memorializing other folk singers.

23 Feb 09 - 10:50 AM (#2573761)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: Jim McLean

Luke Kelly was a very good friend of mine and I'm sure he would be the first to agree with JackCampin.

23 Feb 09 - 10:59 AM (#2573770)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: Brakn

Amen.

Does anyone know it?

23 Feb 09 - 11:08 AM (#2573789)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: MartinRyan

I agree with Jack's sentiments - but think it's a bit hard on American Pie ! Didn't we have a monumental thread deconstructing that, a long time ago?

Regards

23 Feb 09 - 11:51 AM (#2573831)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: GUEST,Shaneo not logged in

I'm nearly sure it's called ''Old Dublin Town'' written by Pete St.John and recorded by Patsy Watchorn.

23 Feb 09 - 05:08 PM (#2574130)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: Brakn

fresh

24 Feb 09 - 11:41 AM (#2574741)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: Brakn

last time

24 Feb 09 - 03:45 PM (#2574945)
Subject: Lyr Add: LUKE'S SONG (Dublin City Ramblers)
From: bill\sables

LUKE'S SONG
As recorded by The Dublin City Ramblers on "Flight of Earls" (1987)

It was in the springtime when the snow was going
And the cold wind blowing that we laid him down,
And the people crying for a dream was dying
And the lights went out in old Dublin town.

CHORUS: Sure this tough old city can be grey or pretty
And the River Liffey can be blue or brown.
There's a missing face now and an empty space now
When the lights go out in old Dublin town.

Old friends were gathered, some with stockings laddered,
Some with purple cassocks, some of great renown,
And the pipes were calling, and the castles falling,
And the lights went out in old Dublin town. CHORUS

But it's not all over, for the wild old rover
Left a feast(?) of music like a golden crown.
Though we'll try to wear it, sure it's hard to bear it
When the lights go down in old Dublin town. CHORUS

24 Feb 09 - 06:38 PM (#2575139)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: Brakn

Thanks for that Bill. Who did it?

04 Mar 09 - 09:58 PM (#2581512)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: GUEST,hg

What is the tune to Luke Kelly, Bill?

05 Mar 09 - 05:11 AM (#2581628)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: bill\sables

Guest hg, you would have to join mudcat so as I can pm you with my phone number and I could sing the tune down the phone, It's the only way I know
Bill

05 Mar 09 - 07:41 PM (#2582209)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: GUEST,send it to harpgirl, bill, I'm not a joiner

06 Mar 09 - 07:39 AM (#2582477)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: samundcandy

Patsy Watchorn sang it with the Dublin City Ramblers. You can find it on the album "Flight Of Earls"

06 Mar 09 - 08:09 AM (#2582502)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: GUEST,Jorrox

Can I direct anyone with an interest to Liam Clancy's spoken piece 'Luke'. It is on his Yes Those Were The Days double CD.

I understand the comments earlier about not paying tribute etc etc, but give this a go. It never fails to move me, sometimes a bit too much.

12 Nov 10 - 03:10 PM (#3030572)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: GUEST,minstrel

Hi Quokka,
       Probably a bit late replying to your query but I've only seen it now.
       My name is Declan O'Donoghue and I wrote The Dublin Minstrel. I am the Irish horse racing correspondent for the Irish Sun.
       Paddy Reilly first recorded it many moons ago on The Gold And Silver Years and Celtic Collection CD/albums.
       Some years ago it enjoyed a revival, I think the Dublin City Ramblers were playing it and one night I heard The Dubliners singing it live on the Vincent Browne Radio Show which - a total coincidence I hope - was the last programme Vincent ever did on RTE!
       Next thing I knew The Dubliners had recorded it on their Live At Vicar Street DVD.
         
       Just one correction to the lyrics generally quoted as
    From Dublin's streets and roads and down the years
should read
      From Dublin's streets and roads all down the years
      
      Anyway thanks for the interest. The idea of the song came on the morning I heard on the radio that Luke had died, I was thinking of how the news must have swept across the city and how people would have reacted.
      Needless to say it's an honour to have a song about Luke recorded at all, let alone by people like Paddy Reilly and of course The Dubliners themselves.
      Hope this clears up some issues for you. Cheers

06 Aug 18 - 11:21 AM (#3942023)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: GUEST

Called "Luke's Song" and is sung by Patsy Watchorn on his album called "The Rare Old Times: The Very Best of Patsy Watchorn."

06 Aug 18 - 12:28 PM (#3942037)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: GUEST,Jim I

There are two quite distinct songs being mixed up here. "The Dublin MInstrel" by Declan O'Donogue and "Luke's Song" by possibly Pete St John.

29 Jan 21 - 01:50 PM (#4090540)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: GUEST

Luke's Song was written by Kilkenny man Ned Egan.

09 Sep 23 - 11:05 AM (#4181091)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: GUEST

Diane

I have Luke's Song on the Dublin City Ramblers cd Flight of Earls. I've always liked it.

09 Sep 23 - 11:05 AM (#4187516)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song about Luke Kelly
From: GUEST

Diane

I have Luke's Song on the Dublin City Ramblers cd Flight of Earls. I've always liked it.