I spent my early youth searching for the music I knew existed somewhere, the music that would lift my soul. I didn’t find it in my mother’s cracked and scratched collection of musical comedy 78s and I didn’t find it when Bill Haley & the Comets came to Europe in 1956. I nearly found it in the early 45 rpm singles of Rhythm & Blues recorded by the likes of Fats Domino. But…not quite. I found it for a short time with Lonnie Donegan and the Skiffle bands that proliferated a little later and on the sleeve of one of Lonnie’s early EPs I first saw the name that was to motivate me through my life – Woody Guthrie.
I found an album, oddly titled “More Songs by Woody Guthrie and Cisco Houston” as it was the only one available. At home I placed the stylus on the first track and as the needle picked up the very first sound of Columbus Stockade a tingle went down my spine. The instrumental intro was followed by an Oklahoman voice, singing, “Way down in Columbus Stockade, want to be back in Tennessee”. And I knew I had found my treasure!

The notes on the back of the album gave nothing away as to who these two men were; I knew they were American, but the world was a much larger place in those days, and I could find no further information. Were they alive or dead?

Not long after that, somebody introduced me to Pete Seeger and he told me about Woody being incarcerated in Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in New Jersey. Finally, I was able to make contact. Unfortunately, Woody was unable to hold a pen by this time as he had inherited, full blown, from his mother, the genetic disease which was at that time called Huntingdon’s Chorea, and had little or no control over his limbs.
Letters were written on his behalf by Sid Gleason a lady who, with her husband, Bob, would take him out of the hospital at weekends to be entertained by his friends and admirers. In this fashion I was able to ‘talk’ to Woody and he to me.

It’s not too much to say that we became friends in this way and he made sure that my name was mentioned, along with his more famous friends, in a mimeographed occasional publication called The Woody Guthrie Newsletter. I have it still and it was probably the highlight of my teenage years:

I’ve always been so proud of the fact that Woody and I were friends in this fashion. I began to record songs on tape for Woody and one letter from Sid Gleason, told me how he would sing along with me.

Of course I am not the first person to record an album of Woody Guthrie songs, by any means; many people have done it before me but I would expect my album to be unique in its Irish approach and having studied Woody Guthrie for over sixty years, I would expect it also to have certain recognisable connections to Woody Guthrie’s playing and singing style.

This album has been germinating in my mind for well over thirty years and I am very grateful to the Arts Council here in Ireland for viewing this project positively, so that I have, finally, been able to bring this dream to fruition.

Andy Irvine 2026

Produced by Flood

Musicians:
Andy Irvine – bouzouki, mandola, bassouki, guitar, harmonica & lead vocal
Dónal Lunny – baritone bouzouki, guitar, backing vocal
Bruce Molsky – fiddle, 5-string banjo & backing vocal
Michael McGoldrick – uilleann pipes, flute & whistle
John Doyle – guitar, mandola & backing vocal
Rens van der Zalm – fiddle, mandolin, guitar & backing vocal
Nikola Parov – accordion, kaval, gadulka, nyckelharpa, violin & Greek bouzouki

Track list:
1. Buffalo Skinners
2. Waiting At The Gate
3. Wallace-Taylor Train/Bet On Wallace
4. Pastures Of Plenty
5. Rambling Round Your City
6. Tom Mooney Is Free
7. Seamen Three
8. 1913 Massacre
9. Tom Joad
10. Rangers Command
11. Mister Charlie Lindbergh
12. Never Tire Of The Road

December 2025: Kicking Off in Victoria and South Australia

Andy begins his Australian solo tour in mid‑December, opening at the Brunswick Ballroom in Melbourne on Sunday the 14th. It’s an afternoon show—doors at 1pm, music from 2pm—which feels perfect for Andy’s intimate, story‑rich performances.

From there, he heads west to Adelaide, playing The Gov on Wednesday the 17th, followed by a special night at Hats Auburn Courthouse in Auburn on Thursday the 18th. These smaller regional venues are exactly where Andy shines: close‑up, conversational, and full of atmosphere.

He closes out the month with a pre‑Christmas performance at Powerhouse Hall in Mildura, Victoria, on Sunday the 21st—a rare treat for fans in the region.

January 2026: A Folk‑Lover’s Dream Across NSW, VIC, and ACT

The new year brings a fresh wave of dates, starting with The Gaelic Club in Sydney on Tuesday the 6th. For long‑time followers of Irish music in Australia, this one will feel like home.

On Sunday the 11th, Andy returns to Victoria for a show at the Verandah Folk Club in Mia Mia, before heading to Canberra on Sunday the 18th for a performance at The Merry Muse Folk Club at The Irish Club.

Later in the month, he travels down the coast to Cobargo, playing the School of Arts Hall on Wednesday the 21st—a venue with deep folk roots.

Then comes one of the tour’s major highlights: a four‑day appearance at the Newstead Live Music Festival from Friday the 23rd to Monday the 26th. Andy has always been a festival favourite, and Newstead’s community‑driven atmosphere is a perfect match for his music.

He wraps up January with a final NSW date at the Newcastle & Hunter Valley Folk Club on Saturday the 31st.

A Tour That Celebrates Tradition, Travel, and Timeless Songs

What makes this tour special isn’t just the number of dates—it’s the spread. Andy is deliberately reaching big cities, small towns, folk clubs, and festivals alike. It’s a tour built for connection, for stories, for the kind of musical moments that only happen when an artist of his calibre steps into a room and makes it feel like a fireside session.

For Australian fans—whether lifelong followers or newcomers discovering him for the first time—this is a rare chance to see a living legend up close.

If you’re anywhere near these venues, grab a ticket, bring a friend, and settle in for an evening with one of folk music’s great wanderers.

https://andyirvine.com/gigs.html

SEPTEMBER 2025

SOLO GIGS in IRELAND

SOLO TOUR in USA

OCTOBER 2025

SOLO TOUR in USA

QUILTY: A lovely “welcome to Ireland-pint” at Andy´s. Now we’re ready to go on tour after two days of rehearsals and good company. First concert is tomorrow 24/4 in the UK, Settle, Victoria Hall. Then 9 more concerts in England, Wales and Ireland. Hope to see you!

ANDY: Diary of a band! Going on tour with Andy Irvine & Quilty
Day one: Quilty arrive from Sweden & get welcomed with pints of Guinness.

2025.04.24

Victoria Hall, Settle, N. Yorkshire

2025.04.25

St Andrews Church, Sheffield

ANDY: Our gig from Sheffield – Andy Irvine & Quilty – is being streamed! Here’s the link. Hope some of you in far flung places might tune in! LINK

2025.04.26

Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith, London

2025.04.27

Rhosygilwen, Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire

2025.04.28

Traveling – No Gig

2025.04.29

Monroe’s, Co. Galway

ANDY: After short tour in UK which was a great success, looking forward to even better things here in Ireland! Tonight: Monroe’s Tavern, Galway 8.45. Hope you’ll be there, you won’t be disappointed!

2025.04.30

Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick

https://www.facebook.com/monroesgalway/videos/1038062031531525

QUILTY: Yesterday in Galway at Monroe’s. Great crowd and we’re so happy to have played our first gig ever as a band in Ireland, after 32 years of service. Tonight Limerick!!

QUILTY: Short stop in Quilty

2025.05.01

The Pavillion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

2025.05.02

Sea Church, Ballycotton, Co. Cork

QUILTY: Balloycotton sea church tonight with the great Andy Irvine.

2025.05.03

The Seantí, Kilmacow, Co. Kilkenny

2025.05.04

Séamus Ennis Arts Centre, Naul, Co. Dublin

QUILTY: We’re now our way to the last gig of the Ireland tour in the Seamus Ennis Centre. Unfortunately our brand new rental van just broke down. But we got rescued by a friendly mechanic and his son who decided to drive us the 2 hours to Dublin.

ANDY: Coming to the end of our ten day tour of UK & Ireland. It’s been brilliant! We have enjoyed ourselves so much. Last gig tonight in The Séamus Ennis Centre in Naul, North Co. Dublin. I really hope the audience will be as good as the previous nine have been. Please come and give us a good send off, you will not be disappointed! https://tseac.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873651820

With thanks to the photographer at Sea Church, Ballycotton, whose name we do not know.

2025.05.05

Wonderful to read these kind words from The Seantí! We enjoyed so much to play for you, a great pleasure, and surely hope to be back soon! : QUILTY

Sometimes a gig comes along and changes everything…….

Those who were lucky enough to be in The Seantí last night were treated to possibly the best show we’ve ever had here. Andy Irvine & Quilty gave an inspired performance!!! I honestly feel sorry for those who missed out on the chance to be here.

Andy kicked off proceedings with three songs on his own. Straight away you could feel that he was in the zone. Then he invited Quilty to join him on stage. Together they blasted into an awesome rendition of “The Plains Of Kildare”……. From there the bar just kept on being raised.

Song after song, the audience were treated to the very best folk music you could ever hope to listen to. The sound that emanated from the stage last night was pure joy. It spread throughout the entire room.

The night ended with a thoroughly deserved standing ovation. Andy along with Quilty gave a performance that won’t easily be bettered or forgotten here at The Seantí.

We sincerely can’t wait for their return.
source: https://www.facebook.com/SeantiBar

Oh yes, some gig! : ANDY

2025.05.07

ANDY: Thank you so much for these great photos! Reminders of a lovely and very successful tour! Looking forward to the next one!
Source Night and Day Photograghy: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078842172822

2025.05.08

ANDY: Now that the brilliant tour with Quilty has ended, I have some solo gigs in Ireland and N. Ireland in May. I’m in the best form, healthy & ready to go! Hoping you all are too!

Fri. 9 Strabane, Sat. 10 Belfast, Thur. 15 Bangor, Fri. 16 Gaoth Dobhair. Looking forward to share the stage with my good friend Fergal Keane at Listowel Writers’ Week on Sat. 31 May. Then in June – Sun. 1 Kinsale, Fri. 27 Leap and Sat. 28 Ballincollig, Co. Cork. Come one, come all! https://andyirvine.com/gigs.html

[43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054](https://quiltymusic.com/2025/01/30/andy-irvine-quilty-touring-uk-and-ireland-in-april-may/?citationMarker=43dcd9a7-70db-4a1f-b0ae-981daa162054 “1”).

Fans can expect a mix of Irvine’s iconic solo work, Quilty’s Scandinavian-infused Irish folk, and collaborative performances that highlight the best of both acts.

Irvine, known for his work with Planxty, Patrick Street, and Mozaik, has long been a pioneer in folk music, blending Irish traditions with global influences. Quilty, formed in Sweden, has built a reputation for their heartfelt interpretations of Irish folk, making this tour a perfect fusion of styles.

With tickets available for all dates, folk enthusiasts across the UK and Ireland have a rare opportunity to witness this musical journey firsthand. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the genre, this tour promises unforgettable performances and a celebration of folk music’s enduring spirit.

For more details and ticket information, visit [Andy Irvine’s official site](http://www.andyirvine.com/gigs.html) or [Quilty’s website](https://quiltymusic.com/2025/01/30/andy-irvine-quilty-touring-uk-and-ireland-in-april-may/).

When Adam was in Paradise
On the first of recreation
Although he wasn’t wanting
He murmured at this station;
Though he never seen a maiden fair
He aye had a notion it was there,
And though he tried to grin and bear
It troubled him severely 

Fill your glasses to the brim,
Toast about the Jorumbo
That every lad may get the lass
That he loves in his bosom.

When Adam he was all alone
A slumber it was granted him,
A rib was taken from his side
To make up what was wanting;
But when this rib became a maid
Her beauty in his awe surveyed
Then Adam he began his trade
For to hug her in his bosom.

Fill your glasses to the brim,
Toast about the Jorumbo
That every lad may get the lass
That he loves in his bosom.

Oh lassie, will you take a walk
Across the feilds and through the bloom
And see the corn growing from the stalk
The Nature in full bloom-o
To yonder bower we did prepare
In search of pleasure and fresh air
And the lassie said she was prepared
For to lie in his bosom

Fill your glasses to the brim,
Toast about the Jorumbo
That every lad may get the lass
That he loves in his bosom.

Fill your glasses to the brim,
Toast about the Jorumbo
That every lad may get the lass
That he loves in his bosom.

Friday 25th April

7.30pm BST (doors 7.15pm)

Available to watch live or opt-in to receive a recording of the gig, available for 72 hours.

Standard ticket £18

Pay a bit less £12

Pay a bit more £30

You need one ticket per device/household; please choose the price that suits you best.

Click here if you’d like more information about our payment options.

Andy Irvine with Quilty

Source: https://livetoyourlivingroom.com/events/andy-irvine-with-quilty/

Source: https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/145365/swedes-to-tackle-trad-tunes

Concertina player Cormac Begley leads the ensemble at Drawing From The Well
Via The Journal Of Music: The Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) has announced that the next edition in the Drawing from the Well concert series will take place at the National Concert Hall on Tuesday 20th May.

Now in its seventh iteration, the Drawing from the Well series brings together artists to create new performances based on materials from ITMA’s collections.

Performing at the concert in May is concertina player Cormac Begley, who will be joined by Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich (accordion) and Clíodhna Ní Bheaglaoich (fiddle); Brían and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn of Ye Vagabonds performing with Dónal Lunny, and Andy Irvine and Matt Molloy. Also in the programme are sean-nós dancer Edwina Guckian, harper Laoise Kelly, singer and flute player Ríoghnach Connolly (who won this year’s RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Award for Best Folk Singer), Lauren O’Neill and Peadar Mac Gabhann (harp and poetry), and Brenda Castles (concertina).

The concert will be presented by Liam O’Connor, Director of ITMA, and guest curator Nora Hickey M’Sichili, Directrice of Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris.

‘It is deeply satisfying for ITMA to see extraordinary artists delve into our archives, uncover hidden gems, and reimagine them for performance on Ireland’s most prestigious stage,’ said O’Connor. ‘[The] concert, curated in collaboration with the Directrice of the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris, marks another exciting step, with sister performances set to take place at Le Philharmonie de Paris, one of France’s most renowned concert halls. These archival treasures are moving beyond library shelves and archival boxes – brought to life through the imagination and skill of artists – finding new audiences online, in concert halls, and beyond.’

The Drawing from the Well series, which launched in 2020, has included concerts, films and recordings that see traditional musicians showcasing archival materials – find out more here.

Drawing from the Well is at the National Concert Hall on Tuesday 20 May

Source: https://www.rte.ie/culture/2025/0331/1504993-trad-legends-unite-for-itma-drawing-from-the-well-concert/

Learned from a 1952 recording of Jim O’Neill from Markethill, Co. Armagh. He was a young man at the time and a fine singer. I believe he died only quite recently. His songs were collected by Sean O’Boyle and Peter Kennedy. – Andy

Frank Ryan, along with Peadar O’Donnell and George Gilmore, was a left wing activist in the bleak years of the 1930s in Ireland, who attempted to get the left together by forming Republican Congress in 1935. He played a heroic part at the Battle of Jarama in 1937 and subsequently in the Spanish Civil War. I wrote this song for a concert in Limerick a couple of years ago that celebrated the dedication of a sculptured stone to the memory of the six Limerick Volunteers, including Frank Ryan, which was unveiled in the grounds of Limerick City Hall by the Limerick International Brigades Memorial Trust (LIBMT). – Andy

Sally Sloane was a wonderful traditional singer from New South Wales, from whom John Meredith, the Australian folk music collector, had collected over 150 songs, a lot of which had come down to her from her Irish grandmother. This version
of The Death of Ben Hall is largely from her, though she sang it in 6/8 time and we have changed it to 4/4. – Andy

In the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight
A sorrowful tale unto you I will relate
Of thirty-six heroes to the world were left to be seen
By a false information were shot on Dunlavin Green

Bad luck to you Saunders for you did their lives betray
You said a parade would be held on that very day
Our drums they did rattle our fifes they did loudly play
Surrounded we were and privately marched away

Quite easy they led us as prisoners through the town
To be slaughtered on the plain we then were forced to kneel down
Such grief and such sorrow were never before there seen
When the blood ran in streams down the dykes of Dunlavin Green

There is young Matty Farrell who has plenty of cause to complain
Likewise the two Duffys who were shot down on the plain
And young Andy Ryan his mother distracted will run
For her own brave boy her eldest beloved son

Bad luck to you Saunders bad luck may you never shun
That the widow’s curse may melt you like snow in the sun
The cries of the orphans their murmurs may you never screen
For the loss of their dear fathers who were shot on Dunlavin Green

Now some of our boys to the hills they are going away
Some of them are shot and more of them are gone to sea
Mickey Dwyer in the mountains to Saunders he owes a spleen
For the loss of his brothers who were shot on Dunlavin Green

Repeat 1st verse

This song from 1798 was learned many years ago from Patrick Galvin’s book, “Irish Songs of Resistance”. The background to the song appears to be that the United Irishmen had infiltrated the British led Yeomanry in Co. Wicklow and the commander, Captain Saunders, ordered a parade at which he said that their names were known. This was a bluff and 36 men fell for it and stepped forward in the hope of clemency. They were executed by firing squad in front of the townspeople and in many cases, their own families. This song is associated with the late Frank Harte who told me he also got it from Galvin’s collection. – Andy

In 1930 my Daddy said he
Stay out of the mines take a warning from me
With dust you’ll be choked and a pauper you’ll be
And you’ll wheeze like the bagpipes of Patsy Touhey

It’s hard times in ‘Comer’s mines
It’s hard times we know

To dig out the coal you must lie on your side
For the seam it is just eighteen inches high
Eight hours a day for pie in the sky
Your pay so low your expenses so high

Nixie Boran was invited to go
To a Union Congress held in Moscow
The Department of Foreign Affairs it said No
For Red Russia we’ll never allow
But Nixie stowed away on a ship
And he landed in France and continued his trip
Says he in old Ireland we must get a grip
And we’ll form a union for miners now

The huts that we live in are built very poor The holes in the roof let the rain in go leor
To keep ourselves warm you can be very sure
With mud we have plastered the walls
Rain washes it off all over the floor
My wife she sits weeping what can she do more
On a wet winter’s night how the children they bawl
And the Captain in comfort at Luxury Hall

The money we earn well it is very slight
And we pay for our tools which doesn’t seem right
The detonators and the gelignite
The candles the fuses the fittings
The rent for our hut is a half crown out
And we pay for the new church five bob a shout
By the end of the week you can have little doubt
We are sick of these wrongs for the slimmest of pickings

We voted to strike without further delay
For a small increase in our miserable wage And coal for our families for which we would pay
The cost of it’s production
So Nixie our demands conveyed
We were ignored no offers were made
And the Church it stepped up it’s holy crusade
For our militant union’s total destruction

Peadar O’Donnell he entered the fray
And he went to the bakers in Dublin they say
Two carloads of bread were delivered that day
And supporters doled out more
Street meetings in Dublin were held every night
Urging support for the miners on strike
But after six weeks we were losing the fight
And we wondered how long we could hold out for

On Sundays at Mass our bold parish priest Compared our union to the mark of the beast
And some of our neighbours they shared his belief
That Nixie was Satan invested
They tried to stop him attending at Mass And they stationed themselves to not let him pass
But we all stood beside them like snakes in the grass
And Nixie and family went in unmolested

We found it too hard to endure all this hate
From the Might of the Church and the Power of the State
Our only desire was to better the fate
Of the men who worked in the mine
So we joined up with Larkin in Thirty-Three And the coal mine owners at last did agree Our victory was small but t’was still victory For we felt like we’d struck a blow for mankind

Well I’ve finished me song and I’ll go away But now in conclusion I’d just like to pay Homage to Nixie there’s much more to say ‘Bout the times that came to pass John Fitzgerald Jimmy and Tom
Walsh was their surname but now they are gone
And all those brave men that their names may live on
For they fought for the rights of the Working Class

It’s hard times in ‘Comer’s mines
It’s hard times we know

Another song I wrote for the NAMHO concert in 2016. Nixie Boran was a union man and a local hero of his time who worked tirelessly for the rights of the miners and their families in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny in spite of strong opposition from the Church and the State. Many thanks to John Coffey who provided the information needed to write the song, to Seamus Walsh and his dad Joe, miners in Castlecomer whose book, “In The Shadow of the Mines” told the whole story and to Joseph Kavanagh who first brought Nixie Boran to my attention. – Andy

https://youtu.be/GnOiGq7OBS0?si=RvoDDP-Sz6SyPhFD

I’m not sure but I think this was written for one of the Radio Ballads that were created between 1958 and 1964 for the BBC by Ewan & Peggy Seeger and produced by Charles Parker. In it’s original form the song is very short and in addition to changing a line or two, I have written an extra verse that I hope is in the spirit of the original. As nobody seems to know what ‘polones’ means, I have used ‘forlorns’ which I learned from Johnny Moynihan. – Andy

https://youtu.be/GHaQUX2_uBs?si=VhHzsB0q0sdtahxY

Certainly not the first song written about Oisín’s departure to Tir na nÓg with the beautiful, ageless Niamh of the Golden Hair. The story, of course, has a tragic ending in that, having lived a wonderful life in the land of the ever young with Niamh, Oisín began to hanker after his previous life, his father Finn MacCool and his warrior friends on Earth. Niamh eventually had to agree to lend him the horse that would bring him back but warned him not to set his foot on the ground or he would never be able to return. He found that much more time had passed on Earth than he had realised and that his friends and the time they had lived in were well passed and gone. In helping a modern day, puny farmer to lift a large rock, the girth of his saddle broke and he tumbled to Earth, never to return to his lovely wife in Tir na nÓg.

I wrote the tune, ‘Trip to Tir na nÓg’ back in 1973 for Planxty but it never saw the light of day till now! – Andy

https://youtu.be/Km2qA-fe5Y0?si=GIOkGaqsfA29h6HM

I have Sean Corcoran to thank for this and many other Northern songs. I was trolling through useless ballad collections in the National Library, Dublin in 1970 when he wised me up to the existence, in the Librarian’s Office, of Sam Henry’s collection, which was later published as “Songs the People”. This song is associated with the great Antrim singer, Joe Holmes who came from just outside Ballymoney and who learned the song from Sam Henry’s informant. – Andy

As I roved out one morning one morning in the Spring
I spied a pretty fair maid these words I heard her sing
The miner lives a hard life never knowing what’s in store
May Providence protect him and keep hardship from his door

So fill your glasses up
Let the toast go merrily round
Here’s a health to every miner lad
That works down underground

She sang about the union men who fought for better pay
To escape the poverty that dogged them night and day
And then a verse she did disburse of men from Erin’s Isle
How they had travelled round this world for many’s a weary mile

She sang of some from Cushendun and some from Carrick town
And more who strayed from Bantry Bay that place of great renown
She said they were the finest that ever you could behold
For they could turn the hardest rock to silver or fine gold

She told how many years ago they worked out in West Cork
And when the copper seam ran out they sailed for old New York
And out in Pennsylvania they dug the Anthracite
And they joined the Molly Maguires for to fight for what was right

And next in Butte Montana they wore the wooden shoe
For they joined that mighty union called the eye double double u
But standing up for workers rights they quickly lost their jobs
And they couldn’t save Frank Little from that vigilante mob

She sang a stave about the brave coal miners in South Wales
How they were paid short measure on the crooked weighing scales
She told of how Nye Bevan in nineteen forty five
He set up the National Coal Board and stood by the miners side

And finally the Miners Strike of nineteen eighty four
And tears ran down her hollow cheeks and she could sing no more
That ruthless Iron Lady in the song she featured not
May her name be never mentioned but her deeds be ne’er forgot

Written for a concert I gave at Dublin City University for the National Association of Mine History Organisations (NAMHO) in 2016. I wanted to point out that Ireland has a long history of various kinds of mining and that, along with “Cousin Jacks” (The name given to Cornish miners), they formed a large part of the early coal mining community in Pennsylvania and the copper mining in Butte, Montana. The reference to Frank Little is in memory of the dreadful murder of this IWW organiser, lynched from a railroad trestle by six ‘vigilantes’ who were never identified. Many thanks to Matthew Parkes. – Andy

Andy: This song, which often has an unhappy ending, comes from the singing of Almeda Riddle who sang it for Alan Lomax in her home in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas in 1959. I’ve added a verse or two and the tune was written by Chris Algar who hails from the midlands in the UK.

We’ve weathered the horn and we’re now off Peru
We’re all of one mind to endeavour to do
Our boats are all ready and our mastheads all manned
Our rigging rove light me boys signals all planned

It was early one morning we heard the brave shout
As the man on the lookout cries out there she spout
Where away says our captain and where do she lay?
Two points off our lee bow scarce one mile away

Then it’s call up all hands me boys be of good cheer
Get your tubs in your boats boys let your bowlines run clear
Up on them yards boys jump in me brave crew Lower away now and after her try the best you can do

Well the waist boat ran down me boys of course got the start
Lay on says our harpooner I’m hell for the long dart
Up on them oars boys and make your boat fly But one thing we dread of steer clear of his eye

We give him one iron and the whale he went down
But as he came up boys our captain bent on
The next harpoon struck and our line sped away
But whatever that whale done he showed us fair play

He raced and he sounded he twist and he spin
But we fought him alongside and got our lance in
Which caused him to vomit and the blood for to spout
And in ten minutes time me boys he had rolled both fins out

We brought him alongside with many’s the shout
We soon cut him in and began to try out
Now the blubber is rendered and likewise stowed down
And it’s better to us me boys than five hundred pound

And we’re bound into Tumbez in our manly power
Where a man buys a whorehouse for a barrel of flour
We’ll spend all our money on them Spanish girls ashore
And when it’s all gone me boys we’ll go whaling for more

Andy: Between 1788 and 1840 whaling was big business in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Chile and Peru. There was very little of the whale that could not be used & the Sperm Whale especially, being the biggest creature on the planet, gave a big profit. A profit in which the crew sometimes got a share. Songs written by the whalermen are nearly always of the top class and often with lovely mixolydian tunes. This is among the best with its graphic description of the whale hunt. These sailors were rough men but there seems, in this song, to be a certain respect for the creature. Probably learned this song from A.L.Lloyd.

Back in nineteen twenty-seven
I had a little farm and I called that heaven
When the price’s up and the rain come down
And I hauled my crops all into town
I got the money, bought clothes and groceries
Fed the kids and raised a family

Rain quit and the wind got high
And the black, old dust storm filled the sky
And I swapped my farm for a Ford machine
And I poured it full of this gas-i-line
And then started rockin’ and rollin’
Over the mountains, out towards the old peach bowl

Way up yonder, on a mountain road
I had a hot motor and a heavy load
I was goin’ purty fast, I wasn’t even stoppin’
A-bouncin’ up and down, like popcorn poppin’
Had a breakdown, sort of a nervous bustdown of some kind
There was a feller there, mechanic feller, said it was engine trouble

Way up yonder, on a mountain curve
I was way up yonder, in a piney wood
And I gave that rollin’ Ford a shove
And I was gonna coast as far as I could
Commence coastin’, pickin’ up speed
It was a hairpin turn, I didn’t make it

Man alive, I’m a-tellin’ you
The fiddles and the guitars really flew
That Ford took off like a flyin’ squirrel
And it flew halfway around the world
Scattered wives and childrens all over the side of that mountain

We got out to the West Coast broke
So dad-gum hungry I thought I’d croke
And I bummed up a spud or two
And my wife fixed up a tater stew
We poured the kids full of it
Mighty thin stew, though
You could read a magazine right through it

Always have figured that if it’d been just little bit thinner
Some of these here politicians could have seen through it

With bitter regret his voice haunts me yet
It’s just three hours since we were together
If you cross the ice you’ll pay the price
You just can’t trust this Antarctic weather

But Haywood and me we didn’t want to be
Sitting waiting around till the ice got stronger
We’d been out in the snow for nine weeks or so
We were sick we were tired we were waiting no longer

If you act in haste you’ll repent at leisure
My mother would have said you should have known better
Outward bound on a final trip
And I have a sinking feeling that I’m on a sinking ship

Chorus:
I was so blind I could not see
A rude awakening was waiting for me
I was blind blind and I could not see
A rude awakening was waiting for me

Well the game was lost half way across
A furious gale set theice in motion
And for this old pro it’s the end of the show
And this is no way to go out on the ocean

If you act in haste you’ll repent at leisure
A seafaring man I should have known better
Outward bound on a final trip
And I have a sinking feeling that I’m on a sinking ship

Well I cursed and I swore a hundred time or more
If only I heeded his words of warning
O lend a hand bring me back on the land
I’ll sell my soul to the devil in the morning

Butl o and behold we’re going to die of the cold
Hunger and thirst are sure to confound us
We should be tucked up tight in some barroom tonight
Instead of having to fight with the sharks around us

If you act in haste you’ll repent at leisure
History will say he should have known better
Outward bound on a final trip
And I have a sinking feeling that I’m on a sinking ship

GIGS in IRELAND

APRIL 2025

TOUR with QUILTY in UK & IRELAND

MAY 2025

TOUR with QUILTY in UK & IRELAND

Off on tour to Germany & Austria once more. Followed by tour of UK. Next six weeks on the road. Looking forward to meeting friends, old & new. I’m in good form, really enjoyed last few gigs this month! – Details at http://andyirvine.com/gigs.html

Gigs

OCTOBER 2024

SOLO Tour in GERMANY & AUSTRIA

NOVEMBER 2024

SOLO Tour in GERMANY & AUSTRIA

SOLO Tour in UK

DECEMBER 2024

GIGS in IRELAND

GIGs in IRELAND, N.IRELAND and SWEDEN

APRIL 2024

GIGs in IRELAND

MAY 2024

GIGs in IRELAND and U.K.

JUNE 2024

GIGs in IRELAND

JULY 2024

GIGs in BELGIUM

SEPTEMBER 2024

Tour with Quilty in SWEDEN and NORWAY

The classic anti-war ballad, “Arthur McBride,” has received an exciting reinterpretation by Viaggiatori Armonici and Andy Irvine.

In this latest iteration, Viaggiatori Armonici skillfully blends their unique sound with the timeless charm of Andy Irvine’s mandola, harmonica, and vocals, breathing new life into this beloved piece.

“Come With Me Over The Mountain / A Smile In The Dark” – A Fresh Interpretation

Andy Irvine joins forces with Viaggiatori Armonici again!

They’re back with a reimagined version of “Come With Me Over The Mountain,” a song from Irish folklorist Sam Henry’s “Songs of the People” collection.

The set seamlessly flows into “A Smile In The Dark,” a lively jig composed by Irvine himself, acting as a playful coda to the first track.

The track is arranged by Carlos Da Costa Coelho, blending the beauty of Irish folk with unexpected baroque influences.

GIGs in ENGLAND

SOLO TOUR in AUSTRALIA

JANUARY 2024

SOLO TOUR in AUSTRALIA

GIG in HUNGARY

FEBRUARY 2024

GIGs in IRELAND & N.IRELAND

MARCH 2024

GIGs in IRELAND & N.IRELAND

GIGs in SWEDEN with QUILTY

APRIL 2024

GIGs in IRELAND

My tour of UK coming up, always a pleasure, been doing it since 1964. April one year, October the next. Looking forward to it as much as ever! https://andyirvine.com/gigs.html

Harry Houdini the Handcuff King
He could escape from nearly anything
His fame and renown forever at the summit
For if it could be done Houdini done it

Harry Houdini Hungarian born
Taking the whole wide world by storm
Getting out of straitjackets and walking through walls
Houdini could do it if it could be done at all

He took twenty seven needles and he swallowed them clean
We examined his mouth not a needle to be seen Then he swallowed cotton thread what a magical blend!
For the needles came out threaded when he pulled on the end

Locked and chained in a casket under water Holding his breath much longer than he oughta Accepting every challenge and he never would shun it
If it could be done Houdini done it

Jumping off a bridge with a big ball and chain Manacled and shackled sure the man’s insane Ten minutes passed and we thought he must have died
When he came to the surface ‘It’s magic’ we cried

Forty thousand people witnessed the affair
We cheered, shook hands and threw our hats in the air
And everybody wondered just how he’d overcome it
But if it could be done Houdini done it

Locked and chained on a big wheel rotating
The buzz of the crowd excitedly waiting
The world’s admiration Harry Houdini won it
For if it could be done Houdini done it

At Scotland Yard they locked him in a cell Handcuffed and leg ironed, thumbs screwed as well
They said they’d be back in an hour or more
But he was free before they’d even reached the door

O Harry Houdini the Handcuff King
He could escape from nearly anything
The detectives one and all they were standing around
Saying ‘God help us all if he’s ever sent down!’

Locked and chained and buried alive
The audience afraid that he wouldn’t survive Whatever the risk Houdini would run it
For if it could be done Houdini done it

In New York City he was all the rage
He brought Jennie the elephant on to the stage And he says now Jennie say goodbye to the crowd
She tossed her head and she trumpeted and bowed

But the audience said ‘Ah for Heaven’s sake
A disappearing elephant give us a break’
In the twinkling of an eye their doubts he’d banished
For into thin air the elephant vanished

Locked and chained in a casket under water Holding his breath much longer than he ought His reputation on the line and he never would shun it
For if it could be done Houdini done it

Before he died he said to his wife
I’ve been escaping from chains the whole of my life
But now the greatest challenge that’s facing me Is escaping from the chains of eternity

So his loving wife and friends most dear
Tried to make contact every year
But Harry Houdini on that distant shore
Obeying the concept of natural law
Never appeared no never no more

Locked and chained Houdini the brave Seemingly unable to escape from the grave
The world’s admiration Harry Houdini won it
For if it could be done Houdini done it

Harry Houdini the Handcuff King
He could escape from nearly anything His fame and renown forever at the summit For if it could be done Houdini done it

If it could be done Houdini done it
If it could be done Houdini done it

Andy: Harry Houdini (1874-1926) had no peers in the art of escaping from straitjackets, chains and handcuffs. As well as his death defying escapes he was a great showman but my friend, the renowned magician, David Williamson told me the following story. During the first annual Society of American magicians convention in Chicago in the 1920s, Houdini was paged to a phone box, which was really just a closet with a phone in it. His fellow magicians thought it would be funny to put a broom handle through the door handles, thus locking the great escape artist inside. They let him bang and wail for a good long while before they let him out. The story was hushed up!

GIGs in IRELAND

JUNE 2023

GIGs in IRELAND

JULY 2023

GIGs in IRELAND

AUGUST 2023

GIGs in IRELAND & FRANCE

SEPTEMBER 2023

GIGs in IRELAND

OCTOBER 2023

SOLO TOUR in UK

Andy Irvine always had the tendency to ramble yet he’s cemented a reputation and career almost without parallel, consider Sweeney’s Men, Planxty, a duo with Paul Brady, Patrick Street, Usher’s Island, Mozaik, if circumstances had turned out different in late 1969 he’d have been part of Steeleye Span! The man is the Irish tradition personified. This release finds him on Norwegian soil in a folk festival headlining show at Telemark 1994. He’s joined on stage by Nilsen who’s something of a heavyweight in Scandinavian folk circles himself.

The pair of them were friends long before they decided to officially perform in public, they’d swap tunes and songs whenever they met up but didn’t exactly rush to bring about a live show. Over a decade and a half later, a standing room only gathering were witness to a lesson in how to mix your roots in an intimate atmosphere whilst allowing each other to totally be themselves. There’s a mixture of traditional and contemporary material on display as both reshape and expand their endemic folk, effectively it’s a long song swap which stretches across fifteen tracks of satisfying acoustic musicianship. Highpoints include the opening ‘Jenta I Chicago,’ from Neilsen which bounces along on chunky Norwegian rhythms and Irvine’s fond ‘My Heart’s In Ireland Tonight,’ which recalls his days as a member of Sweeney’s Men as they made their way around County Clare.

All in this is a thoroughly excellent bit of rootsy archaeology which might well have gathered dust on a shelf instead of a CD version release. Now it can put a smile on your face and you’ll be all the better for it.

Simon Jones.

andyirvine.com

Spiral Earth rating
3/5

Chorus: With me dithery-idle-dyddle-di, Me ditheree idle dando

Rich lords they came to court her and squires of great fame
There was none but Jack the sailor lad this lady’s heart could gain

Says the old man to his daughter now if this be true of thee
O Jack he will be banished and confined you will be
You may confine my body but you can’t confine my mind
For it is Jack the sailor lad that’s won this heart of mine

And she went into a tailor’s shop and dressed in man’s array
To ship on board of a man of war and convey herself away

Before you get on board with us your name we’d like to know
With a smile upon her countenance they call me Jack Mulroe

O your waist it does look slender and your fingers do look small
And your cheeks are red as rosy for to face the cannonball
My cheeks they may look rosy and my fingers may look small
But I would not start or tremble though ten thousand round me fall

And the drums did loudly rattle and loud music it did play
And upon the field of battle then they all did march away
They fought all day with valour and likewise with might and main
And a sergeant and two officers by this fair maid were slain

And when the war was over in a circle she marched round
And among the dead and wounded her sailor boy she found

Coming up the streets of Mohill she raised him in her arms
And she sent for the best of doctors for to heal his bleeding wounds

Then up and stepped her father saying my daughter’s gone from me
And divil the feature in her face but does resemble thee
She says I am your daughter and likewise your daughter dear
I fought through the wars in Germany and I have my Johnny here

And the bonfires blazed on every hill as you may plainly see
For to welcome this young couple home from the wars of Germany

And her father then he gave consent to join in wedlock bands
Besides he gave her a thousand pounds a thousand and free land

As Good As It Gets (Andy Irvine) / The Blue Trouser Suit (Donal Lunny)

A song that refers back, nostalgically, to my attempted amorous exploits in Ljubljana,
Slovenia, Yugoslavia in 1968/69, while on the road. Such happy memories but, alas,
no romantic success!!
Ah! Figovec, a far cry from O”Donoghue’s but a wonderful ‘pub’ to be sitting outside
in the sunshine of the late sixties! Andy

It’s as good as it gets sitting outside Figovec
Gazing at the girls in Ljubljana
There is Cvetka and Slovenka, Živa and Alenka
But the girl to buy a beer is Marjana

On Sundays at the skating wishing only that I might be mating
Petja or Nevenka how divine or
Watching Maja floating round the ice blue trouser suit, very nice
Her yellow hair streaming out behind her

At the dance in Hala Tivoli on Saturdays great revelry
We dance to Mladi Levi – The Young Lions
O Milena she is supple and we make a handsome couple
But Ivanka is the girl I’ve got my eye on

It’s as good as it gets sitting outside Figovec
Gazing at the girls in Ljubljana
There is Cvetka and Slovenka Živa and Radenka
But the girl to buy ice cream is Jana

I was feeling kinda flukey as I played upon my Greek bouzouki
Trying to impress Anamarija
I was singing her a love song I might as well have been King Kong
She hadn’t the foggiest idea

But Čevapčiči will always be a happy memory for me
Washed down with a jug of černo vino
And fried potatoes, goulash sauce scarcely sexual intercourse
But Vlasta’s has the money for this beano

It’s as good as it gets sitting outside Figovec
Gazing at the girls in Ljubljana
There is Cvetka and Slovenka, Živa and Radenka
But I think I’ve got a crush on Tatjana

With Vida through the woods at night walking arm in arm by moonlight
She wears my ring upon her finger
But her mother leaning from the window shouting out in foreign lingo
Makes me think perhaps we should not linger

So my flimsy tent in the dark we pitched it there in Tivoli Park
And spent the night surrounded by the weather
O for miles around the storm’s affray with lightning and with thunder played
The rain lashed down in buckets hell for leather

We’re the only creatures in this world warm and dry me and my girl
As the storm the countryside does batter
But before the early dawn we rise to hide ourselves from prying eyes
Facing the new day’s another matter

On the Sunday I departed it was early in the morn I started
Heading for that road I knew so well
When I reached the outskirts of the town I scarcely even turned around
My future lay ahead, I broke the spell

But it’s as good as it gets sitting outside Figovec
With Dasha, Katarina and Ivana
In my memory you will always be a bevy of the greatest beauty
Bless the days I spent in Ljubljana
O Happy days I spent in Ljubljana

I learned this version of the classic Irish song from the singing of John O’Connell
who came from Kilworth in Co. Cork and recorded it for the BBC in 1952.
I think it’s probably more usual to sing “…a mountain of snow” in the last verse but
Johnny Moynihan, who I first heard sing this song, so many years ago, sang
‘fountain’ and I always liked the poesy of that better! Andy

Young Jimmy he went fowling with his dog and his gun
Fowling all the day till the evening it came on
His sweetheart being out walking he took her for a swan
And he shot his Molly Bán by the setting of the sun

Jimmy he ran homeward with his gun in his hand
Sad and broken hearted as you may understand
Saying father dearest father if you knew what I have done
I have shot my Molly Bán by the setting of the sun

Then up and spoke his father although his locks were grey
Saying son my dearest son do not think of going away
Stay in your own country till your trial it come on
For you never will be hanged for the loss of a swan

It was just three months after to her uncle she did appear
Saying uncle dearest uncle do not think to shoot my dear
My white apron being around me he took me for a swan
And alas to his sad grief I was his own dear Molly Bán

O Molly you were my Stóirín my joy and heart’s delight
I always intended to make of you my bride
Take all the girls in this country and stand them in a row
Molly Bán would shine above them like a fountain of snow

I learned this song from my old friend Jeff Davis of Woodstock, Connecticut. Jeff was
a long time musical partner of another friend, Jeff Warner, whose parents, Frank and
Anne, collected a lot of folk music in New England in the 1940s and 50s. This song
came from Mrs. Lena Bourne Fish from New Hampshire. To quote Jeff, from the liner
notes of his great album – Some Fabulous Yonder – “This song is one of those nearly
extinct gems, saved from oblivion by a single singer. The song apparently survived in
Mrs. Fish’s family and nowhere else.”
It comes from the Seven Years War (The French and Indian War) about 1758/59.

Well they took away me brogues and they robbed me of me spade
They put me in the army and a soldier of me made
But I could not beat the drum, I could not play the flute
They handed me a musket and they taught me how to shoot

And we had a bloody fight after we had scaled the wall
The divil a bit of mercy did the Frenchies show at all
Well the Indians they were sly and the Frenchies they were coy
They shot away the left leg of this poor Irish boy

Then they put me on a ship and they sent me home again
With all me army training after battle’s strife and din
And we headed for the Downs and we landed on the quay
Me mother came to see me and these words she did say
O Felix were you drunk or Felix were you mad
Whatever has become of the two fine legs you had

I will bid my spade adieu for I cannot dig the bog
But I can play me fiddle O and I can drink me grog
I have learned to smoke a pipe and I can fire a gun
To the divil with the fighting I am glad the war is done

Quilty & Andy Irvine – Quilty’s 30 Years Anniversary Tour in Sweden & Norway

Tue 14.Eskilstuna teater, ESKILSTUNA
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Wed 15.Nyköping teater, NYKÖPING
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Thur 16.Dieselverkstaden, STOCKHOLM
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Fri 17.Gävle Konserthus, GÄVLE
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Sat 18.Kulturhuset i Ytterjärna, JÄRNA
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Sun 19.Kulturoasen, UPPSALA – 2pm concert
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Sun 19.Altunagården, FJÄRDHUNDRA – 7pm concert
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Tue 21.Herr Nilsen, OSLO
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Wed 22.Laholms teater, LAHOLM
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Thur 23.Victoriateatern, MALMÖ
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Fri 24.Baptistkyrkan, LINKÖPING
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Sat 25.Bollnäs kulturhus, BOLLNÄS
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Sun 26.Folkmusikens Hus, RÄTTVIK
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APRIL 2023

GIGs in IRELAND / N.IRELAND

Fri 7.Dolans, Limerick
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Sat 8.Cultúrlann Sweeney, Kilkee, Co Clare
Get TicketSun 9.Róisín Dubh, Galway
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Thur 13.Red Hot Music Club @ Fallon’s, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare
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Fri 14.The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon
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Sat 15.Townhall Theatre, Cavan
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Sun 16.The Court House, Bangor
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APRIL – MAY 2023

Solo Tour in Europe – UPDATED

Thur 20.Marktkirche, Am Markt 15, 45527 Hattingen/Blankenstein
fon. +491755904459

Fri 21.Konrad-Adenauer-Schule, Bergstrasse 21, 53604 Bad Honnef
fon. +49222475011

Sat 22.FluXus Muziekschool Pasveerzaal, Zaandam
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Sun 23.Cultuurcentrum Tiliander, Oisterwijk w/ Rens van der Zalm – 3pm concert
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Tue 25.ufaFabrik, Berlin
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Wed 26.Apex, Göttingen
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Thur 27.Heimathaus Rotenburg, Rotenburg/Wümme
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Fri 28.Kulturmanufaktur Gerstenberg, Frankfurt/Oder
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Sat 29.Rätschenmühle e.V. Geislingen, Geislingen Steige
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Sun 30.Löwensaal, Hohenems, Austria
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Thur 4.Heidbarghof, Hamburg/Osdorf
fon. +4940802565

Fri 5.Bessunger Jagdhofkeller, Darmstadt
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Sat 6.Club Kuckucksei, Nürtingen
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Sun 7.Kulturzentrum Oberhof, Büdingen
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Mon 8.Irish Folk Club Munich im Fraunhofer Theatre, München
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MAY 2023

GIGs in IRELAND

Fri 19.Siamsa Tire, Tralee, Co. Kerry w/ Dónal Lunny
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Sat 20.The White Horse, Ballincollig w/ Dónal Lunny
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When I beheld this fair young maid my heart began to palpitate
My eyes began to dazzle and her figure I could not state
She was loaded with some balls of thread the same she had upon her head
Passing through the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore

When I saw this maid approaching me my heart rose to a high degree
I stood with great alacrity to accost this charming maid
Kind sir she says I’m going astray won’t you please now show me the way
That leads to the weaver’s house in Sweet Lisbweemore

There is no other human being in showing the way can surpass me
I know it from my infancy so come along a stór
But if you’ll agree to stay with me I’ll be always be your grá mo chroí
Here by the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore

She soon replied indeed I won’t you are a dirty scheming rogue
Please desist from flattery with a simple honest maid
But if you’re inclined to show the way come along don’t me delay
Here by the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore

O what she said I did excuse her request I could not refuse
We both walked on together and she this to me did say
Where is that man they call DB his evidence I’d like to see
Here by the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore

O come along my pretty maid don’t be of me the least afraid
I’ll lead you through this rugged place that you never went before
And your guardian I will surely be until that young man’s face we see
Here by the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore

The truth to you I will relate I do not wish to his face
The reason too I’ll tell to you it’s early in the day
And if he’d see us both alone a song for us he might compose
Here by the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore

To do his best what can he say are we not honest going the way
Besides he has the decency never to dispraise
And another man were in my shoes he’d spoil your petticoat warp and woof
Here by the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore

When this I said without delay upon my word she ran away
In vain I followed after her through thick and steep terrain
No roebuck in the park so quick could lep each handicap and ditch
As she did through the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore

Alas she was too quick for me though I ran with great rapidity
I was tumbled by the dint of speed and topsy turvy thrown
E’er again on ground my foot I lay she was a half a mile away
At least from the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore

(Traditional)

Cold and frosty was the night it was nearly twelve o’clock
When the great ship Titanic began to pitch and rock
And the passengers all cried oh are we going to die?
It was sad when that great ship went down

Chorus:
It was sad it was sad it was sad when that great ship went down
Husbands and wives little children lost their lives
It was sad when that great ship went down

When the ship it left Southampton and was sailing along the shore
The rich declared they would not travel with the poor
So they put the poor below where they were they first to go
It was sad when that great ship went down

As the humble closed their eyes in the darkness of the hold
The rich men up the stairs they were playing cards for gold
And they laughed when a sailor said there’s an iceberg straight ahead
It was sad when that great ship went down

When they reached the Banks of Newfoundland the wireless it did plead
There’s icebergs all around here for God’s sake watch your speed
But the wireless operator he answered with a quip
‘Twould take more than an iceberg to sink this mighty ship

When he heard the awful news O the captain stood aghast
Says steady now brave boys I think we’re going a shade too fast
Hard astern he cried too late to save their lives
It was sad when that great ship went down

And the ship about to sink and the sides about to burst
The captain shouted out women and children first
And they tried to send a wire but the wires were all on fire
It was sad when that great ship went down

Many lifeboats were half full when they put them out to sea
And the band on board was playing nearer my God to thee
Little children wept and cried as the waves swept o’er the side
It was sad when that great ship went down

Many men stood back like heroes and sent their wives to shore
They kissed shook hands and parted to meet on Earth no more
And Death came sailing by fifteen hundred died
It was sad when that great ship went down

(Andy Irvine)

Well that little gal her name’s Irene
She’s got good jelly but she’s stingy with me
She’s a truckin’ little baby, she’s a truckin’ little baby
She’s a truckin’ little baby gonna tell it everywhere I go

Well look here boy you ain’t no fool
You know that any little gal won’t do
She’s a truckin’ little baby, she’s a truckin’ little baby
She’s a truckin’ little baby gonna tell it everywhere I go

Well look here boy you better shake your dough
‘Cause I got to truck some before I go
She’s a truckin’ little baby, she’s a truckin’ little baby
She’s a truckin’ little baby gonna tell it everywhere I go

I tell you boy cause you’re my pal
It’s a mighty bad sign to advertise your gal
She’s a truckin’ little baby, she’s a truckin’ little baby
She’s a truckin’ little baby gonna tell it everywhere I go

(Blind Boy Fuller)

Rise up early in the morning wi’ your bundles in your hand
Be at the station early or you’ll surely have to stand
Tak’ plenty to eat and a kettle for your tea
Or you’ll surely die of hunger on the way to Yarmouth quay

The journey is a lang one and it tak’s a day or twa
And when you reach your lodgings aye it’s soon asleep you’ll fall
But you’ll rise at five with the sleep still in your e’e
You’re awa’ to find the guttin’ yards along the Yarmouth quay

It’s early in the morning and it’s late intae the night
Your hands are cut and chappit and they look an awful sight
And you’ll greet like a wain when you put them in the breen
And you’ll wish you were a thousand miles awa’ frae Yarmouth quay

There’s coopers there and curers there and buyers, canny chiels
And lassies at the picklin’ and others at the creels
And you’ll wish the fish had been all left in the sea
By the time you finish guttin’ herrin’ on the Yarmouth quay

We’ve gutted fish in Lerwick and in Stornoway and Shields
We’ve worked along the Humber ‘midst the barrels and the creels
Whitby, Grimsby, and all the country roond
But the place to find the herrin’ is the quay at Yarmouth toon

(Ewan MacColl/Peggy Seeger/Charles Parker)

You oughta been up town and hear that train go down
You could hear the whistle blow a hundred miles
And it’s O Lordy me and O Lordy my
You could hear the whistle blow a hundred miles

I’ve been to the east and I’ve been to the west
I’m goin’ where them chilly winds don’t blow
And it’s O Lordy me and O Lordy my
I’m goin’ where them chilly winds don’t blow

You oughta heard that train when she rounded the bend
She’s blowin’ like she’ll never blow again
And it’s O Lordy me and O Lordy my
She’s blowin’ like she’ll never blow again

(Traditional)