Favorite Gaelic Storm Songs

Before the Night is Over

Some take their hope, and hide it away
It burns in the darkness, like gold in a grave
There's a spark inside, that can't be concealed
No hurt is so secret that it won't be healed

Chrous:
Before the night is over
Make your heart an open door
Then all we hold inside us
Won't divide us any more
Before the night is over
And the time we have is done
Before our courage fades away
Let our hearts be bound as one

I've lost my way, when nothing is clear
I've been afraid to love, then I hurt what I fear
I can face the night, find strength in your eyes
not afraid to fall, not afraid to rise

Chorus

Chorus repeat and fade





Black is the Colour
Chorus: 
Black is the colour of my true love's hair
Her lips are like some roses fair
The sweetest smile and the gentlest hands 
I love the ground where on she stands

I love my love and well she knows
I love the ground where on she goes
I hope the day will one day come
When she and I will be as one

Chorus

I go to the Clyde for to mourn and weep
For satisfied I never can be
I write her letters, just a few short lines
and suffer death a thousand times

Chorus

I love the ground where on she stands





Johnny Tarr
Lemme tell you a little story about a man named Johnny Tarr
He was a hard drinking son of a preacher, always at the bar
Lager from the tap or shots of Paddy from the shelf
He could open his throttle and throw back a bottle as quick
as the devil himself ... Johnny Tarr!

Word got around that Johnny Tarr was no pretender,
From Clare to here they'd lock up the beer when Johnny went on a bender
Down at Dickey Mack's, the Rising Sun, or at the Swan
If he was drinking at seven by ten to eleven well all 
the booze would be gone! 
Johnny Tarr!

Chorus:
Even if you saw it yourself, you wouldn't believe,
And I wouldn't trust a person like me, if I were you
I wasn't there, I swear I have an alibi
I heard it from a man who knows a fellow who says it's true!

It was nine in the morning on a cold rainy night,
Johnny rolled into the Castle Bar, looking to get tight
He had money in his pocket, he had whiskey in his eye,
He said: Get up off your asses and set up the glasses,
 I'm drinking this place dry!

Now all the serious boozers, they were soon broken hearted
When Johnny finished off six and he was only getting started
Guzzling down the pints, knockin' em back like candy,
He was lookin' alright to be drinkin' all night,
then Nora brought out the Brandy! 
Johnny Tarr!

Chorus

Johnny drank the whole damn bottle, had another pint or two,
When it made no impression he started his session with Murphy's 
Millenium Brew
He was waiting for his pint when his face turned green
Jesus, Johnny fell down after only fifteen!

You could have heard a pin drop, then the crowd let out a roar
It took five Cork women to lift Johnny off the floor!
The doctor looked him over and said you better call the hearse:
but it's not what you're thinkin' it wasn't the drinkin' 
this man died of thirst

Chorus





Mary's Eyes
lyrics by Janis Ian 

Mary's eyes are startling blue 
And her hair's newcastle gold 
And she walks the thin white line 
Between the body and the soul 
She's as faithful to her history 
As a novice to his fast 
For she is standing on the bones of Ireland's past 

She is singing of the troubles 
And a fire in the land 
'Til I can almost feel the famine 
Slipping through my trembling hand 
And I wonder as I hear her 
That the spirit still shines through 
And she can reach across the ocean deep 
And break my heart in two 

Mary is wise as she is foolish 
She's as constant as the tide 
For it's a woman's heart that beats beneath 
That stubborn Irish pride 
We are saints and we are sinners 
We are heroes we are thieves 
We are all of us beginners 
On the road to Galilee 

She is singing of the troubles 
And a fire in the land 
'Til I can almost feel the famine 
Slipping through my trembling hand 
And I wonder as I hear her 
That the spirit still shines through 
And she can reach across the ocean deep 
And break my heart in two 

So let us hoist a pint of silence 
To the east where Ireland lies 
And we will stare across the waters 
For a glimpse of Mary's eyes 
We are ships without a harbour 
We are sailors on dry land 
And the song goes on forever 
Even though the record can't 

She is singing of the troubles 
And a fire in the land 
'Til I can almost feel the famine 
Slipping through my trembling hand 
And I wonder as I hear her 
That the spirit still shines through 
And she can reach across the ocean deep 
And break my heart in two 





The Leaving Of Liverpool
Fare thee well to Prince's Landing Stage
Mersey River, fare thee well
well I am bound for California
but I know that I'll return someday

Chorus:
So fare thee well, my own true love
When I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling when I think of thee

Oh I have signed on the yankee sailin' ship
Davy Crockett is her name
And Burgess is the captain of her
And they say that she’s a floatin’ shame

Chorus

Oh I have sailed w/ this Burgess once before
And I think that I know him quite well
For if a man is a sailor, he can get along
If not, he's in a floating Hell

Chorus

The sun is on the harbor, love
And I wish that I could be thain
Because I know it will be some long long time
Before we see you again






Go Home, Girl! (aka The Gypsy)

Don't say that you're in love me listen to what I say 
You're too young to come with me, you must be on your way. 
And stop your silly crying now how can I make you see 
That I'm a gypsy rover, love, and you'll not come with me. 

Go home, Girl, go home, go home! 

And I met you at the market when your mam was just with you. 
You liked me long brown ringlets and me handkerchief of blue. 
And although I'm very fond you, you asked me home for tea, 
But I'm a gypsy rover, love, and you'll not come with me. 

Go home, Girl, go home, go home! 

And your brother is a peeler and would lock me up in the jail 
If he knew I was a poacher and I hunt your lord's best quail. 
Well your daddy is a gentleman, your mammy just as grand 
But I'm a gypsy rover, love, and I'll not be your man. 

Go home, Girl, go home, go home! 

Well the hour's drawing on my love, your mam's expecting thee. 
Don't tell her that you met me here or I'm a gypsy free. 
And let's get off me jacket now, your love will have to wait. 
FOR I AM TWENTY TWO YEARS OLD AND YOU, YOU'RE ONLY EIGHT! 

Go home, Girl, go home, go home! 
Go home, Girl, go home, go home!






An Poc ar Buile (The Mad Puck Goat)

Ar mo ghabháil dom siar chum Droichead Uí Mhórdha, 
Píce i m' dhóid is mé ag dul i meitheal, 
Cé chasfaí orm i gcumar ceoidh 
Ach pocán crón is é ar buile! 

Alliliú puilliliu 
alliliú tá an poc ar buile. 
Alliliú puilliliu 
Alliliú puilliliu, tá an poc ar buile! 

Do ritheamar trasna trí ruilleogach 
Is do ghluais an comhrac ar fud na muinge, 
Is treascairt dá bhfuair sé sna turtóga 
Chuas ina ainneoin ar a dhroim le fuinneamh 

Alliliú puilliliu 
alliliú tá an poc ar buile. 
Alliliú puilliliu 
Alliliú puilliliu, tá an poc ar buile! 

Níor fhág sé carraig go raibh scót ann 
Ná gur rith le fórsa chun mé a mhilleadh, 
Is ea ansin do chaith sé an léim ba mhó 
Le fána mhór na Faille Brice 

Alliliú puilliliu 
alliliú tá an poc ar buile. 
Alliliú puilliliu 
Alliliú puilliliu, tá an poc ar buile! 

The Gardai came from the town of Ballyroche 
For to catch that goat with sticks and switches 
The goat gave the Captain a kick up his arse 
And his horns made rags of his brand-new britches! 

Alliliú puilliliu 
alliliú tá an poc ar buile. 
Alliliú puilliliu 
Alliliú puilliliu, tá an poc ar buile! 

I nDaingean Uí Chúis le haghaidh an tráthnóna 
Bí an sagart paróiste amach 'nár gcoinnibh, 
Is é dúirt gurbh é an diabhal ba dhóigh leis 
A ghaibh an treo ar phocán buile! 

Alliliú puilliliu 
alliliú tá an poc ar buile. 
Alliliú puilliliu 
Alliliú puilliliu, tá an poc ar buile! 





She Was The Prize
I've lived a long life and now I'm looking back
It's the end of the road; the last stop on the track
And I smile as think of my true love once more
The light of my life; the one I adore

(chorus)
She...she was the prize
The prettiest girl with the loveliest eyes
She...she was the prize
Shiny black hair and those lovely...those lovely brown eyes

I met her one night at the Harvest Fair Dance
I long for a whisper; I hoped for a glance
then she turned and she smiled
and I melted away
and I knew I'd be with her 'til my dying day

(repeat chorus)

We lay on the cliffs and and we walked hand in hand
we threw stones in the waves
we drew hearts in the sand
without warning, clouds rolled in and blackened the sun
and when they rolled out
my light, she was gone

(repeat chorus)

I've shed all my tears and I've said my goodbyes;
now I'll lay myself down 
were my pretty girl lies
and when I awake
I'll be on earth no more
I'll be dancing a jig with the girl adore

(repeat chorus)





Bonnie Ship, the Diamond

The Diamond is a ship me lads,
For the Davis Straits she's bound
And the Quay it is all garnished
With bonnie lassies round

Captain Thompson gives the order
To sail the ocean wide
Where the sun it never sets me lads
Nor darkness dims the sky.

Chorus:
And it's cheer up, me lads
Let your hearts never fail,
For the bonnie ship The Diamond
Goes a-fishing for the whale! 

Along the quay at Peterhead
The lassies gathered around
Wi' their shawls all pulled about them
And the salt tears runnin' down

Oh don't you cry, my bonnie lass,
Though you be left behind
For the rose will grow on Greenland's ice
Before I’ll change my mind.

Chorus:

Here's a health to The Resolution,
Likewise the Eliza Dane
Here's a health to the Battler of Montrose
And The Diamond ship of fame

We wear the trousers of the white
And the jackets of the blue
When we return to Peterhead,
We'll have sweethearts enoo.

Chorus: X2

It'll be bright both day and night
When the Greenland lads come home
Wi' a ship that's full of oil me lads
And money for to burn

We'll make the cradles for to rock
And the blankets for to tear
And every lass in Peterhead
Sing hushabye my dear!

Chorus:






Johnny Jump Up

I'll tell you a story that happened to me 
One day as I went down to Yawl by the sea 
The sun it was bright and the day it was warm, 
Says I, "a quiet pint wouldn't do me no harm"
I went in to the barman, and says "give me a stout"
Says the barman, "I'm sorry, all the beer is sold out 
Try whiskey or vodka, ten years in the wood" 
Says I, "I'll try cider, I've heard it was good."

Chorus: 
Oh never, Oh never, Oh never again 
If I live to a hundred or a hundred and ten 
I fell to the ground and I couldn't get up 
After drinking a pint of the Johnny Jump Up

After lowering the third I headed straight to the yard 
Where I bumped into Brophy, the big civic guard 
"Come here to me boy, don't you know I'm the law?"
Well, I up with me fist and I shattered his jaw 
He fell to the ground with his knees doubled up 
But it wasn't I hit him, 'twas the Johnny Jump Up 

The next thing I remember down in Yawl by the sea 
Was a cripple on crutches and says he to me, 
"I'm afraid of me life I'll be hit by a car 
Won't you help me across to the Railwayman's Bar?"
After drinking three pints of that cider so sweet 
He threw down his crutches and danced at his feet 

Chorus... 

Now I went up the lee road, a friend for to see 
They call it the madhouse in Cork by the lee 
Well when I got there, the truth I do tell, 
They had this poor bugger locked up in a cell 
Said the guard, testing him, say these words if you can 
"Around the ragged rock the ragged rascal ran"
"Tell him I'm not crazy, tell him I'm not mad 
It was six pints of that cider I had!"

Chorus... 

Now a man died in the union by the name of McNabb 
They washed him and laid him outside on the slab 
And after the coroner his measurements did take 
His wife brought him home to a bloody fine wake 
Twas about 12 o'clock and the beer was high 
The corpse sits up and says with a sigh 
"I can't get to heaven, they won't let me up 
Til I bring them a pint of the Johnny Jump Up!"

Chorus... (x2)





The Ferryman
Paddy Schmidt


All the little boats are gone
From the breast of Anna Liffey
And the ferrymen are stranded on the quay
The Dublin docks are dying
And a way of life is gone
It’s over, Molly, over, can’t you see? 

Chorus:
Where the strawberry beds
Sweep down to the Liffey
You’ll kiss away the worries from my brow
I love you well today
And I’ll love you more tomorrow
If you ever loved me, Molly, love me now

Twas the only job I knew
It was hard but never lonely
The Liffey Ferry made a man of me
Now it’s gone without a whisper
Forgotten even now
Oh Molly, it was part of you and me

Chorus

Well now my work is over
And spend my days here roving
I hear them whisper Charley’s on the dole
But Molly we’re still living
And darling we’re still young
And the river never ruled my heart or soul





I thought I knew you

Surfin' through the pages in my mind, I find a picture of you,
You were young and I was too, "I do," you said, and I believed you.

Singin' songs and dancin' in the street, the beat I don't remember
A barking dog, a velvet chain, the rain was cold, you were colder.

Chorus:
I thought I knew you
I thought I knew you
I thought I knew what you're about
I doubt if I ever knew you

We took the ferry late at night, first light discovered us together
We agreed that paradise was nice, but couldn’t last forever.

Bright eyed and bushy tailed, I failed to see what everyone saw
Moss growing on the roof the truth was getting hard to swallow.

Chorus:

For every left there is a right, for every day there is a night
A moon, a sun, a smoking gun, a tear, an eye, hello, goodbye
For every hand there is a glove, every hate there is a love
Heaven, earth, a death, a birth, a hat, a head and a hunger...
a hunger never fed!

You dropped the TV in the pool that’s cool, I know, but no one saw you
Hotel rooms and limousines, it seems to me you got your heaven.

Chorus:

Tomorrow never comes, they say, but hey you know I don’t believe them
I close my eyes and drift away today has gone, I'm still standin'
I'm still standin'
I'm still standin', Oh!





South Australia

In South Australia I was born
Heave away, haul away
In South Australia round Cape Horn 

Chorus
We're bound for South Australia
Haul away you rolling kings
Heave away, haul away
Haul away, you'll hear me sing
We're bound for South Australia 

As I walked out one morning fair
Heave away, haul away
'Twas there I met Miss Nancy Blair
Chorus: 

I shook her up and I shook her down
Heave away, haul away
I shook her round and round the town
Chorus: 

There ain't but one thing grieves me mind
Heave away, haul away
It's leaving Nancy Blair behind
Chorus: 

And as we wallop around Cape Horn
Heave away, haul away
You'll wish to God you'd never been born
Chorus:






I'll Tell Me Ma

I'll tell me Ma when I go home,
The boy's won't leave the girls alone.
They'll pull my hair, they stole my comb,
Well that's alright till I go home. 

Chorus:
She is handsome. She is pretty.
She is the bell of Belfast City.
She is courtin' one, two, three.
Please won't you tell me, who is she? 

Albert Mooney say's he loves her.
All the boy's are fighting for her.
They knock at the door and ring at the bell
Sayin' "Oh my true love, are you well"?
Out she comes as white as snow,
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes.
Oul Jenny Murray say's she'll die
If you don't get the fella
With the roving eye. 

Let the wind and the rain and hail blow high
And the snow come tumbling from the sky,
She's as nice as apple pie.
She'll get her own lad by and by.
When she gets a lad of her own,
She won't tell her Ma when she comes home.
Let them all come as they will
For it's Patrick Murphy she loves still.





Beggarman

I am a little beggarman and begging I have been
For three score or more in this little isle of green
I'm known from the Liffey down to Segue
And I'm known by the name of old Johnny Dhu
Of all the trade's that's going, sure begging is the best
For when a man is tired, he can sit down and rest
He can beg for his dinner, he has nothing else to do
Only cut around the corner with his old rig-a-doo

I met a little flaxy-haired girl one day
"Good morning little flaxy-haired girl" I did say
"Good morning little beggarman, a how do you do
With your rags and you tags and you old rig-a-doo"
I'll buy a pair of leggings, a collar and a tie
And a nice young lady I'll fetch by and by
I'll buy a pair of goggles and I'll colour them blue
And an old fashioned lady I will make her too

I've got the sky, I've got the road, I've got the sky, 
the world is my home!

I slept in the barn, down at Caurabawn
A wet night came on and I slept 'till the dawn
With holes in the roof and the rain coming through
And the rats and the cats, they were playing peek-a-boo
When who did I waken but the woman of the house
With her white spotty apron and her calico blouse
She began to frighten and I said "boo
Aarah, don't be afraid mam it's only Johnny Dhu"

I've got the sky, I've got the road, I've got the sky, 
the world is my home!

Over the road with my pack on my back
Over the fields with my great heavy sack
With holes in my shoes and my toes peeping through
Singing skinny-me-rink a doodle o and old Johnny Dhu
I must be going to bed for it's getting late at night
The fire's all raked and out goes the light
So now you've heard the story of my old rig-a-doo
It's good-bye and God be with you says old Johnny Dhu





New York Girls
Lyrics to be added





Courtin' in the Kitchen

Come single belle and beau,
Unto me pay attention.
Don’t ever fall in love,
It’s the devil’s own invention.

Once I fell in love, 
With a lady so bewitching;
Miss Henrietta BELL,
Down in Captain Kelly’s Kitchen.

Chorus X2
With me
Toura loura lie; toura loura laddy
Toura loura lie; toura loura laddy
Toura loura lie; toura loura laddy
Toura loura lie; toura loura laddy

At the age of seventeen, 
I was apprentice to a grocer,
Not far from Stephen’s Green, 
where Miss Henri used to go, sir.

Her manners were so fine,
She set my heart a twitchin’
She invited me to a
Courtin’ in the Kitchen

Chorus

Next Sunday be the day 
that we were to have our flare up
I dressed meself quite gay, 
and I frizzed and oiled me hair up

The captain had no wife, 
he had gone a fishin’
So we kicked up our [life]
to a hooley in her kitchen!

Chorus

*musical interlude*

She slipped up to her room
I says “Good Lord Almighty!”
She came back down the stairs
Wearing nothing but her nighty!

With her arms around me waist
She slyly hinted marriage
When to the door in haste
Came Captain Kelly’s carriage!

Chorus

Well the Captain came downstairs
Though he saw me situation,
In spite of all me prayers
I was marched off to the station.

For me they set no bail
Though to get home I was itchen’
And I had to tell the tale
of how I came into that kitchen

Well I swore she did invite me,
Though she gave a flat denial,
Forso they did indict me
And I was sent for trial.

She swore I robbed the house,
In spite of all me screechin’
And I got six months hard
For me courtin’ in the kitchen!

Chorus X 3 and fade






Nancy Whiskey

Courtin’ in the Kitchen

Chorus:
Whiskey whiskey, Nancy whiskey
Whiskey whiskey, Nancy-O!
Whiskey whiskey, Nancy whiskey
Whiskey whiskey, Nancy-O!

*musical interlude*

Chorus

I am a weaver, a Calton weaver,
I am a brash and a roving blade.
I got silver in my britches,
And I follow the roving trade!

Chorus

I went into Glasgow city,
Nancy whiskey I did smell
I walked in, sat down beside her
Seven long years; I loved her well!

Chorus

The more I kissed her, the more I knew her
The more I loved her, the more she smiled!
I forgot my mother’s teaching,
Nancy soon had me beguiled!

Chorus

Woke up early in the morning,
Lying halfway off the bed,
Tried to rise, but I was not able
Nancy damn near knocked me dead!

Chorus

I’ll get back to the Calton weaving;
Surely make those shuttles fly,
I’ll make more at the Carlton weaving,
Than ever I did at the roving way.

Chorus

All you weavers, you Calton weavers,
All you weavers where e’er you be,
Beware of whiskey, Nancy Whiskey
She’ll ruin you, she ruined me!

Chorus X 4