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Deorai/Pedals and Wheels (Jean Bolger)
Deorai (JO-ree) is one of those wonderfully versatile Irish words. In one context, it means "an emigrant," in another context it means "an exile." It's literal meaning is "one who has known tears." Pedals and Wheels is named for a brace of juvenile car theves whose "careers" started at such a tender age that it required two of them to steal a car-one to operate the pedals on the floor and one to operate the steering wheel.
Brid Bheasach (traditional)
Brid Bheasach (BREE-dge VAY-suck) means Ladylike Bridget and recounts her bitter recriminations agains marriage. The song is quite enigmatic and could be construed as the pained reminiscence of an old woman (soon to be 101) whose lover married someone else.
Step It Out, Mary (traditional)
I have always admired this as the perfect three minute song. A "chestnut" and a song of great elegance-brief, unrushed and pregnant with great themes, including a hugely ironic ending.
Eamonn A' Chnoic (traditional) / The Icy Sidewalk (Mike Fitzmaurice)
The first of these is a warhorse of the Irish repetoire. Eamonn of the Hill, driven from his land and hunted by his enemies, seeks help from his lover. The second piece, by our bass player Mike, is called "the Icy Sidewalk" and is, as you might surmise, a slip jig.
How Will I Ever Be Simple Again (Richard Thompson)
This is one of many great songs written by guitarist and songwriter Richard Thompson.
The Life of Riley's Brother (Brian Mullins)
Brian, the latest to join our ranks, presented us with this installment in the ongoing mystery of the Riley clan. Who is the elusive Riley? Who is his brother? Some cryptic clues may be found in the mouth music...
Clapping of hands, all of the time
Clapping of hands with Riley
Clapping of hands in twisted tempo
I'm running a race with Riley
A confused answer, a liar's answer
A blind man's answer, sore oppressed
A fine big answer, written in a book
The answer of a goat, fat without grazing
The sound of the winds, bitter and piercing
The sound of a whistle, sweet and fine
The sound of my yeart, tiny and startled
Mourning the years flown from my life
General Grant's Visit to Dundee (Michael Marra)
The events described in this song occurred in 1877 when U.S. Grant was on a world tour. The town of Dundee, in eastern Scotland, was a large and prosperous city with some fine and noted architecture, including the Old Steeple which dates from the 14th century. The town was justly famous, however, for the railway bridge that spanned the River Tay. The bridge was two miles long (the longest in the world at the time) and was considered an engineering marvel of its day. This is the same bridge that was immortalized by the wonderfully execrable McGonagall, who was assaulted by the muse of poetry in that same year of 1877. Grant got to see the Tay bridge just in time. In 1897, it collapsed in a storm. Our thanks to Louis Krupp for introducing us to the work of Michael Marra and so much more wonderful music.
Like Martha Blake (Jean Bolger/Mick Bolger)
The title for this song comes from a poem by Austin Clarke (1896-1974), "Martha Blake at 51." The song itself was conceived as a reply to the numerous Soldier-and-Maiden songs. Although these are usually cautionary tales, they can be just so jolly and bouncy that it is sometimes hard to realize how much grief and guilt an illicit love affair could bring. In the past, Ireland could be a very repressive country. It still can be.
Yeshe In The Garden (Jean Bolger)
Cats have long been an inspiration to us humans. From the ancient Egyptians to the 8th Century "Pangur Ban," to Eliots' "Old Possum," they find their way into human endeavors--much as they find their way into most everything else. Our fiddle player, Jean, was inspired by her beloved Yeshe, now, sadly, demised. Think of this tune as the soundtrack to a cat hunting things that we can't see.
Yeshe In The Garden is featured on the Story Page, where you can view the original sheet music, see Yeshe herself, and even download the mp3-encoded song in its entirety.
The Streets of Forbes (traditional)
Our friend Paul Taylor joins us on bullroarer and didjeridoo on a tale of dastardly deeds Down Under.
Blackbirds and Thrushes/Maire Bheicheach (Loud Mary) (traditional)
There are a number of versions of "Blackbirds and Thrushes." We found this one in Colm O Lochlainn's More Irish Street Ballads. We found "Maire Bheicheach" in Ceol Rince na hEireann, Cuid I.
The Rare Ould Times (Pete St. John)
A song of recent vintage, but by now a classic. The reference to Anna Liffey is to the river Liffey which flows through the center of Dublin.
Mollai Ni hAlpin (Molly Halpin)/The Dusty Windowsill/The Merry Harriers (traditional)
Rod, our well-known flute player, used to perform the first of these as a solo. We soon appropriated it and put it with a jig which we had also stolen from his repetoire. Then, for good measure, Jean added the reel-and Bob's your uncle-and maybe Riley's brother's first name?
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