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09 Jan 99 - 11:26 AM (#53013) Subject: Need Lyrics: When NY was Irish From: Boston Bill Great song that captured the early part of this century! Should be easy to find. Thanks Boston Bill |
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09 Jan 99 - 12:23 PM (#53025) Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN NEW YORK WAS IRISH (Terence Winch) From: Big Mick Here ya go lad. Great song, written by Terence Winch of the band, Celtic Thunder. I don't know which version you have heard but the original, sung by Laura Murphy is probably as good as it gets. Laura is a pretty interesting story. It seems she was encouraged by her friends to get up and sing at a Celtic Thunder pub gig, and she knocked the socks off everybody, including the band. According to the CD liner, she had to get on the phone and call her mother for lyrics to more songs. The Brothers winch hired her on the spot and the rest is history. She comes by it honest, though. Her Da, Frank Murphy sings with Glenfolk. At any rate, here are the lyrics.
WHEN NEW YORK WAS IRISH
CHORUS:
2) We worked on the subways, we ran the saloons,
3) You can travel from Kingsbridge, to Queens or midtown. CHORUS:
4.) I look at the photo's, now brittle with time; |
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09 Jan 99 - 12:28 PM (#53027) Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: When NY was Irish From: Big Mick A postscript. The Celtic Thunder CD, "the light of other days" on which "When New York was Irish" appears, was produced by Dan Milner's friend (and great folklorist) Mick Moloney. All the best, Mick Lane |
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09 Jan 99 - 02:19 PM (#53044) Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: When NY was Irish From: Boston Bill Where do you find the time and patience to provide such great detail? I feel like I'm on a treadmill and barely have time to blow me nose. I'll see if our Boston area Irish Elvis wants to sing "When NY was Irish". We may have local resistance, but the song is too good for only NY people.! Thanks for your trouble. Slan! Bill Kelleher |
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09 Jan 99 - 02:51 PM (#53049) Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: When NY was Irish From: Big Mick Bill a chara, I perform this song, so I only had to go to "My Documents" and copy and then paste it. You are welcome. It is indeed one of the great songs. And as far as Boston folks being a bit provincial, you might point out that there is no place like Southie anywhere. So sit back and enjoy the music. Slan go foill, Mick Lane |
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09 Jan 99 - 11:06 PM (#53108) Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: When NY was Irish From: Barry Finn Boston's not to provincial, especially when it comes to music, any kind of music. If it's good they'll sing it, if it's bad they'll probably sing it too. Mick do you know Southie? Barry |
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10 Jan 99 - 02:18 PM (#53183) Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: When NY was Irish From: Big Mick Barry, One of my dearest friends, a blaggard by the name of George Landers, was born and raised in Southie. He introduced my to the place with tales of his childhood. I consider it my spiritual home. ***LOL at the thought of referring to Southie as spiritual***Yes, I am familiar with Southie. While we are talking of things Boston, have you ever been to Tiernan's Pub, used to be called Michael Sherlock's? Liam Tiernan of Barleycorn fame is the publican. He comes here a couple of times a year to play in a wee pub out in the middle of nowhere, and later to perform at the Great Lakes Irish Music festival. All the best, , Mick Lane |
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10 Jan 99 - 03:50 PM (#53197) Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: When NY was Irish From: Barry Finn As far as I knew it was still called Micheal Sherlock's. He (Micheal) has made a living of getting Irish pubs off the ground & running & was always keen on using sessions as part of that plan. I know Liam is a musician, if he's a fiddler & also played with St. James Gate a long time ago he's the same Tiernan that I knew but haven't seen in at least 10-12 yrs. No Mick, I haven't been to the Pub/Resturant, it's kind of a fern bar place, lots of ferns, brass, white tablecloths with candles & big glass windows, probably a nice place to eat but I don't think it's very conducive to acoustic music. Another singer & I were gonna start up a sea shanty session there when it first opened but I felt it was to up & up. Is George a Boston firefighter who used to fequent the Village Coach House? Barry |
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10 Jan 99 - 04:06 PM (#53200) Subject: RE: Need Lyrics: When NY was Irish From: Big Mick You told me just what I wanted to know. Now I can give Tiernan the business about his "lace curtain" establishment. Haven't been that way in a while. Hope to get there this year, I will look you up when I do. I am sure that it has gone through a name change and it is now called Tiernan's. I believe it is in the Back Bay, no? Seems like they were going through a helluva construction project, and it was affecting business. I think Sherlock is out of it, if I am not mistaken. I have never seen Liam Tiernan play fiddle. He played guitar and was one of the singers with Barleycorn. He was a founding member, and with them when they recorded "The Men Behind The Wire" which was the #1 selling single in Irish history last I knew. George Landers was not a fireman that I know of. He was a cop, went to DC and was a cop there and eventually became a member of the Capitol Police force. He knew both of the recently slain officers. He now works for the United Food and Commercial Workers union in the International HQ in DC. Mick |
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05 Mar 00 - 09:40 PM (#190122) Subject: Lyrreq When New York was Irish From: GUEST,cmcw@horatio.cs.pdx.edu Does anyone have the complete lyrics for a song which I think is called "When New York was Irish"? At least that phrase is part of the chorus: "When New York was Irish, what joys and heart breaks" Thanks for any help available. |
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05 Mar 00 - 09:52 PM (#190130) Subject: Lyr Add: WHEN NEW YORK WAS IRISH (Terence Winch) From: Brakn Oh I'll sing you a song of days long ago When people from Galway and the County Mayo From all over Ireland, they came here to stay To take up a new life in Amerikay Chorus They were ever so happy, they were ever so sad To grow old in the New World, through good times and bad The parties and weddings, the ceilis and wakes When New York was Irish, full of joy and heartaches Oh we worked on the subways and we ran the saloons We built all the bridges and we played all the tunes We put out the fires and we ran city hall Oh we started with nothing and wound up with it all You would travel from King's Bridge, to Queens on the town From High Bridge to Bayridge, from Uptown to Down From the Eastside to the seaside, sweet summer scenes We made New York City our island of dreams Chorus They were ever so happy, they were ever so sad To grow old in the New World, through good times and bad The parties and weddings, the ceilis and wakes When New York was Irish, full of joy and heartaches Now I look at the photographs, brittle with time Of those people I've cherished when New York was mine Oh how I love, their radiant smiles How I long for the days when we danced in the isles I can't tell you who wrote it. Mick Bracken |
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05 Mar 00 - 10:20 PM (#190144) Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish From: Barry Finn If I can remember (which is doubtfull) I'll ask a friend whose sings this if he's got any more info on this, hopefully I'll see him this Wed. Good luck, it's a great song. Barry |
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05 Mar 00 - 10:33 PM (#190150) Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish From: momnopp It's a Celtic Thunder song - I'll look up author (one of the Winch brothers?) I have the cassette in my car. PS - See "The Washingtonian" for March, 2000 - whole article on the Irish in DC. |
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06 Mar 00 - 01:28 PM (#190447) Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish From: Peg Hi; Barry mentioned our pal Connie often sings this at the singers' club. He ends the chorus with "All the parties and weddings, the ceilis and wakes/When New York was irish, full of joy and heartbreak" instead of "joy and heartaches." peg |
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06 Mar 00 - 06:57 PM (#190657) Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish From: Irish sergeant momnopp; When New York was Irish was indeed done by Celtic Thunder. Words and music by Terence Winch. Its a great song It's on the album the light of other days put out by Green Linnet Records, Irish Sergents. |
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06 Mar 00 - 07:04 PM (#190667) Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish From: McGrath of Harlow Surely that last line should be "danced in the aisles"? |
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06 Mar 00 - 08:12 PM (#190709) Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish From: Brakn Ha! 10 out of 10 McGrath. Well spotted. Thanks. Mick Bracken |
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07 Mar 00 - 02:25 AM (#190969) Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish From: SingsIrish Songs Mick, Would you happen to have the chords??? Mary |
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19 Mar 00 - 01:11 AM (#197532) Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish From: GUEST,cmcw@horatio.cs.pdx.edu I got the lyrics - go raibh mille maith agat ! |
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23 Feb 05 - 02:58 PM (#1418734) Subject: RE: Lyrics request; When New York was Irish From: GUEST,Mree Amazing song! Thanx for the info, I'm using it on a school assignment. There's nothing like spreading Irish classics! |
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08 Jan 08 - 06:51 PM (#2231565) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When New York Was Irish (Terence Winch) From: GUEST,jeffrowan anyone have the chords the the shilelagh law version of this song? |
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09 Jan 08 - 03:52 PM (#2232400) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When New York Was Irish (Terence Winc From: McGrath of Harlow It'd scan and sing just as well with Boston as with New York, and only the third verse would need a few place names adjusted. (For a precedent there's "If we only has old Ireland over here" which exists in the original Australian version, and in an American versions with just that kind of adjustment.) |
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14 Mar 09 - 12:23 PM (#2588781) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When New York Was Irish (Terence Winch) From: GUEST Oh, God, I love this song! I have been searching for it for years. Used to have a cassette tape with Pat Roper singing it...then, I couldn't remember the name...thanks so much, what a wonderful song! Go mbeannaí Dia dhuit Meggie |
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10 Sep 11 - 08:54 PM (#3221361) Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: When New York Was Irish (T Winch) From: GUEST I'm pleased to see all these comments about the song in this discussion, which I just stumbled upon. I have, at last count, 27 covers of the song in my iTunes library (not that I've ever made any money off it) and I'm delighted that it's been so popular. I wrote it primarily in memory of my parents, who came over in the 1920s. The word in the last line is indeed "aisles," not "isles." I also have to say that my least favorite version of the song is Shillelagh Law's. They're good musicians, but doing the song as a polka seems like the wrong approach to me. ---Terence Winch /www.terencewinch.com |