Happy St. Patrick's day! If you are on the search for Celtic mp3s, Ring Tones, iTunes, all in the Irish songs and lyrics tradition, but don't know any great bands, this article might be of assistance. I have compiled a list of the Greatest Irish Bands, fiddlers, and musicians from Ireland and the world over.
Saint Patrick's Day is almost here, can't you just smell the sweet grass from the rolling green hills-Spring is on the way. Thinking of ways to spend Saint Patricks Day? One cannot spend Saint Patrick's Day without some down to earth Celtic Music.
If you are looking for a refresher, or are new to Irish Music, you might find some of these artists titles a great place to start looking. I've got a list of a few Irish Musicians, and bands that play some modern Irish Music, and are world known and have record sales in Ireland, America and Canada. (and beyond) The songs from these groups would be great to play at your Saint Patrick's Day gathering.
I also have the lyrics to a few popular Irish Tunes, at the base of this article for an added treat, just in case you want to sing along to some of the oldies Irish tunes.
Dixie Chicks. The most popular Irish Band, who's known the world over would have to be the Dixie Chicks. Dixie Chicks are a famous Irish band, who moved to Texas, and world wide known. They have one amazing, modern Irish song, entitled, The Red Hair Boy, and if you are looking for a great Irish Song for your Saint Patrick's Day, I suggest you look that one up first.
The Chieftains. Chieftains are an Irish Band coming from Dublin, and they also live in Texas, and their music is beautiful. Martina McBride sings with Chieftains with the tin whistle playing. Their most popular Irish Song, is, I'll be all smiles tonight.
Rita McNeal Rita McNeal, Irish music, Celtic Music. She hails from Nova Scotia, Canada, and is revered the world over for her beautiful songs.
Katie Wilson Hails from New Brunswick Canada, and although not know beyond Canada and the Eastern States of America from Maine to New York, her unique sound is riveting, and I'm sure Katie will, as her career grows, become more known.
Ashley McIsaac
This fiddling electric styled musician has some of the most unique Irish music on the market. His popularity comes from his funny songs, his catchy tunes, and his kilt, which he actually doesn't mind lifting during his strange and obscure performances that leave them chuckling, and dancing in the isles. Ashley dances up a storm, while playing hard on his fiddle, with those little legs of his going all over the place. Quite the performance, and quite the talented musician.
One of my favorite Ashley McIsaac songs is titled, "What an Idiot He Is." Ohh listening to that song will bring someone to your mind, no matter who you are, because it describes an idiot to a T, and we have all met them at one time or another. It starts out so down to earth and true.
Well he walks with a swagger and he talks with a sneer
Everything about him tells you don't come near
He doesn't bother looking to the left or to the right
He knows where he's goin' and he keeps it inside
We can never figure out why he's so uptight
What an idiot he is
Ashley's cute accent, and the way he slurrs when he sings makes this song the bomb. If you are ever depressed by someone doing you wrong, or you want to check out Ashley McIsaac songs, you've gotta listen to that one.
Like Ashley says,
He doesn't even know what an idiot he is
He says. "What's an idy, any?" Lord have pity!
And his favourite food is Wonderbread and Cheez-Whiz, gimmie!
Too funny! Those Canadians are so halarious. For those of you who want to learn the rest of the song, you should buy his music, there's more where that came from.
Great Big Sea
Hit the music scene many moons ago, with their biggest hit, Run Runaway. They are a band from Newfoundland Canada, and have played as far away from home as NashvilleTN. Their unique urban sound is refreshing, and their newest hit, The Mermaid is rapidly growing in popularity.
Great Big Sea, has a unique Irish sound and if you are looking them up the best place to start is on Amazon.com. Amazon actually has a music section, and bands will donate their hits as free mp3's. You can also have a listen, and if you want to buy a few of the tracks you can do so, for about a dollar.
The best Great Big Sea tunes are many, they have that Irish flavor, with the tin whistle, and the fiddles, but thier songs are Modern with an Irish twist, even on the old Irish Tunes. So if you are looking for some Irish Music, and want to hear something new, and still Irish, besides The Wild Rover, here's a list of the ones to check out first.
Run Run Run Away-- You've probably heard it on the radio.
Labatt Beer Commercial Song. "HAY".-- Yep that's their's to. Great Hockey Music!
500 Miles-- I would walk 500 miles.. and I would walk 500 more.
I'se the Bye-- Modernized.. good tune.
The Night Pat Murphy Died.
The Old Black Rum-- That one was done well.
A'ha me boys-- This song is very traditional, and makes you want to sing along.
Sally Ann
The Donkey Riding
It's The End Of The World As We Know it- I feel fine.. You've probably heard it on the radio.
Gordon Lightfoot
He has a great Irish Sounding tune.
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. A great sound, and a beautiful sad song.
Natalie McMaster
The cute little curly haired fiddler. The way those long legs of her can kick it up while she's playing heavy on the fiddle has made her trademark. And her talent as a musician has gained her international fame. Natalie McMaster, niece to Buddy McMaster, another fiddler, is a sweetheart from Eastern Canada, Cape Bretton, Nova Scotia, and she is truly amazing. If you love fiddle music, you'll love the young and ever so lovely Natalie. She has opened for legends such as Carlos Santana in TN, and has won numerous awards for her outstanding performances.
* If you're wondering why so many classic Irish bands come from Eastern Canada, and have made it on my list. They say when the Irish immigrated to Canada, one set landed on a frozen rock, called Newfoundland, and they never left. The other lot made their home in New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, and never let their Irish traditions fade. Their communities are in Irish Tradition, and they pass down their family traditions through their generations. The local pubs still have bands that play the tin whistle, the drum, and the fiddle sounds. These bands have made it in the big times, in the music industry, and earned recognition. Plus their music is worth looking up, if you are into Celtic Tunes.
The Ranklin Family
This is a little family group, from Cape Bretton Island, Nova ScotiaCanada. They are famous throughout Canada, and the US, and their records sell world wide.
The Dubliners
A famous pub band straight from Dublin Ireland, have been around for over 30 years and to the delight of their audience, their Irish Music, Irish Drinking songs, and great performances keep ‘em coming back for more. That and the fact that their jamming always happened by accident, in-between bar fights and beer.
The Dubliners own The Wild Rover, and nobody can sing it like they can.. SO lift up your kilt!
The Clancy Brothers
Another great Irish Band, hailing from Carrick-on-Suir, County Tiperrary, Ireland. They emigrated into the US, moving into New York, and appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1961. They are known the world over for their Irish Folk Songs, and Irish Drinking Songs.
A Crowd of Bold Sharemen
A Newfoundland band, whose funny Irish Drinking Song, Irish Wife Songs, and lovely Irish music are sure to make you smile. Good title for a group name.
Buddy Wasisname And The Other Fellers
Another Newfoundland band, with strange sense of humor, and classic Irish Drinking Songs, plus a few of their own original songs. You gotta hear them to appreciate them.. and if you're into Irish Jigging, you might just become on of their fans.
Irish Rovers
This band is world known for their funny Irish Drinking songs, their sad songs about ships who sunk, and the endless tracks they have released over the decades. One of their most famous songs might be, Wasn't That A Party! And, Grandma Got Runover By Reindeer, and The Unicorn. Their fame started in Canada. The Irish Rovers are also known for their Irish Drinking Songs, and turned the melody of The Wild Rover into a beautiful sound.
Now I'm going to fill you in a little tip, something I picked up on hanging out with those funny Irishmen. If you want to fit in this Saint Patrick's Day, and you find the local Irish Pub, and with any luck they have a live band playing.. And let's face it, you'd have to be unlucky not to find an Irish Pub on Saint Patrick's Day without an Irish Band playing live. Here's a couple tips on how to fit in, and have the time of your life.
Get up and dance! It doesn't matter if you don't know the steps, nobody cares, what matters is that you get up and join in on the fun!
Now there is a song, that most Irish Bands play, and you should really become familiar with it, I have provided a link a little further on down, where you can download these songs from a site, that goes by paid ads, and I'll explain all that when I give you link, but, if you look up this song, and learn the way the way the Irish contribute to the band, and you'll surprise them when you are joining in.
The most popular song played at the Irish Pub is, The Wild Rover. Now the Wild Rover is an Irish Drinking song, and a great one to party to. If you can't find the song, or don't have the time, you can always listen for the lyrics when you are sitting and drinking your green grogg, or Irish Coffee, and join in at the right time. This is how it goes.
The Wild Rover.
I've been a wild rover for many's the year I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer But now I'm returning with gold in great store And I never will play the wild rover no more
And it's No, Nay, never, (This is the part you play, toss your arm up in the air, and scream out really loud with the crowd."Lift up your kilt." No, nay never no more Will I play the wild rover, No never no more
I went in to an alehouse I used to frequent And I told the landlady me money was spent I asked her for credit, she answered me nay Such a customer as you I can have any day
And it's No, Nay, never, (Lift up your kilt) No, nay never no more Will I play the wild rover, No never no more
I took up from my pocket, ten sovereigns bright And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight She says "I have whiskeys and wines of the best And the words that you told me were only in jest"
And it's No, Nay, never, (Throw up your kilt) No, nay never no more Will I play the wild rover, No never no more
I'll go home to my parents, confess what I've done And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son And, when they've caressed me as oft times before I never will play the wild rover no more
And it's No, Nay, never, (Lift up your kilt) No, nay never no more
Will I play the wild rover, No never no more
It's great fun, and interacting with the band makes it an experience of the whole pub, for one night, having fun all together. That's probably one of the most endearing things about Irish Music, the togetherness, the fun, and the laughter.
ez-tracks.com
Ez-track, seems to be one of the best places to go to get free legal mp3's. On their site they claim that the music industry is paid their royalties, and is funded through their ads. Signing up is easy, all you need is a valid email address, and you get 100 free downloaded songs. For Irish music, on ez-tracks you will look in the category of world music. There you will find pretty well most any Irish Song or Irish Band that you are looking for. The ads are a bit cumbersome, but it's worth it, to know that the artists are getting paid their dues. As with any site, you should always read the disclaimers, and judge for yourself, if you feel the site is legit.
Here's a link where you can find legal free Irish Music, Ringtones, and iTunes.
Here's some great Saint Patrick's Day lyrics to sing with your family.
St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick's Day is here, you see. We'll pick some shamrocks, one, two, three. We'll count the leaves and look them over, And maybe find a four-leafed clover. I'll sew green buttons on my vest,Green for St. Patrick is the best. I'll wear a green hat, very high, And dance a jig--at least I'll try!
The Wearin' O' the Green
Today is the day fer the wearin' o' the green.
Today is the day when the little people are seen.
Today is St. Patrick's Day, so if ye'r Irish me lad,
Join the celebratin' fer the grandest time ta' be had.
Ya' put yer hand up in the air, the other hand on your hip.
Ya' tap yer toe, ya' tap yer heel,
ya' bounce yer knee a wee bit.
Ya' prance 'n dance around the room, n' circle one two three.
The saints be praised, I must admit, ya' all look Irish ta' me.
I'll Wear a Shamrock
St. Patrick's Day is with us,
The day when all that's seen
To right and left and everywhereIs green, green, green!
And Irish tunes they whistle And Irish songs they sing, To-day each Irish lad walks out As proud as any king.
I'll wear a four-leaf shamrock In my coat, the glad day through, For my father and mother are Irish And I am Irish too!
Danny
Oh Danny boy, the pipes the pipes are calling, From glen to glen and on the mountainside. The summer's gone and all the leaves are falling, 'Tis you must go, 'tis you must go and I must bide!
But come you back, when summer's in the meadow, Or when the valley's hush and white with snow! Then I'll be there in sunshine or in shadow, Oh Danny Boy, Oh Danny Boy, I love you so !
And if you come, when all the flowers are dying And I am dead, as dead I well may be You'll come and find the place where I am lying And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.
And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be If you'll not fail to tell me that you love me I simply sleep in peace until you come to me. Oh Danny Boy, Oh Danny Boy, I love you so!
The Unicorn
A long time ago when the Earth was green, There was more kinds of animals then you've ever seen. And they'd run around free while the world was being born.
The loveliest of all was the Unicorn!
There was green alligators and long necked geese, Hump back camels and chimpanzees. Cats and rats and elephants but sure a you're born, The loveliest of all was the Unicorn!
But the Lord seen some sinnin' and it caused him pain. He says, "Stand back, I'm gonna make it rain. So hey, Brother Noah, I'll tell you what to do. Go and build me a floating zoo."
"You'll take two alligators and a couple of geese, Two hump back camels and two chimpanzees. Two cats, two rats, two elephants but as sure as you're born, Noah, don't you forget my unicorns!"
Well, Noah looked out through the drivin' rain, But the unicorns was hidin'-playin' silly games. They were kickin' and a-splashin' while the rain was pourin', Oh them foolish unicorns.
"So you take two alligators and a couple of geese, Two hump back camels and two chimpanzees. Two cats, two rats, two elephants but as sure as you're born, Noah, don't you forget my unicorns."
And the the ark started movin' and it drifted with the tide, And the unicorns looked up from the rock and cried. And the water came up and sort of floated them away, That's why you've never seen a unicorn to this day.
You'll see a lot of alligators and a whole mess of geese, You'll see hump back camels and chimpanzees. You'll see cats and rats and elephants but as sure as you're born, You're never gonna see no unicorn.
(The Irish Rovers)
Puff, the Magic Dragon Sung By Peter, Paul and Mary, and writen by Leonard Lipton, and Peter Yarrow. This song would be great for a Preschool party, or for all children's ages, to enjoy at their Saint Patrick's Day Party.
Hope you found something helpful.
May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, And may trouble avoid you, where ever you go.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
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