The 7 Best Irish Folk Songs
- Madilyn Brus
- 54 minutes ago
- 4 min read
For much of my life, I have been surrounded by Irish culture, most notably Irish folk music. I have grown up at Irish music festivals and in the basement of pubs with my family, listening to the boisterous sounds of traditional Irish folk music being kept alive. There are dozens of pictures of me, my brother, and my father dressed in kilts at music festivals, concerts, heritage events, and social gatherings. Irish folk songs have been my lullabies, and I have listened to copious amounts of fiddle and bagpipe music. These are my top seven favorite Irish folk songs, in no particular order, in honor of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, and the day honoring him, St. Patrick's Day.
Irish folk music fosters a community that is allowed to loudly love their traditional music.
Red Is The Rose by The High Kings
Red Is The Rose is a beautiful tribute song to a loved one who has departed. The High Kings perform it with a clarity and precision that cannot be replicated by autotune. Many Irish folk songs are not written by the performers, and there are many variations and productions of traditional songs. When choosing songs, I also chose my favorite performers of the song. Red Is The Rose is a variation stemming from the Scottish song Loch Lomond, which was originally written in 1840. The song has a dreamy and clear tone that provides an atmosphere of remembrance and solemnness.
Fields of Athenry by The Dubliners
The Fields of Athenry tells the story of a father who stole food for his family during the Irish famine and now faces imprisonment. It is a song that has grown to represent national pride and resilience. The song has a passionate melody and even acts as an anthem for the sports team, the Celtics.
No Nay Never by The Irish Rovers
No Nay Never represents the promise to never make irresponsible decisions again. It features traditional Irish folk music instruments such as the fiddle, tin whistle, banjos, guitars, and bodhran drum, which is a small circular drum played vertically and played with a mallet called a cipin. This drum, along with the violin, drives the song and provides the catchiness always found in upbeat Irish folk music. It is the most clappable genre of music, in my opinion.
The Rattlin' Bog by Seamus Kennedy
The Rattlin' Bog is a comedy song that features a “rattlin” or great bog. Seamus Kennedy starts with the subject of a tree in a hole in the bog and continues to zoom in on the limbs, branches, twigs, and so forth, and in some versions even goes as far as a subatomic particle. The song is a humorous and fun time to sing while listening to live music.
The Black Velvet Band by The Dubliners
Most Irish folk songs tell a story and are then passed on for centuries. The Black Velvet Band is the story of a man who is betrayed by a girl who places a stolen watch in his hand and then is sentenced to prison. The song is a favorite of Irish music lovers and has been played at every single live Irish folk music event and festival I have ever attended, and the listeners have even developed crowd participation chants during the song. Irish folk music is music that is meant to be listened to in a group and with no embarrassment regarding participation and singing along. No one turns up their nose at singing, clapping, or even dancing along. Instead of it being seen as overshadowing the performer, it is taken as a sign of enjoyment and respect for the performer.
The Green Fields Of France: The Clancy Brothers or High Kings
The Green Fields of France remembers the soldiers lost in World War I. Eric Bogle is the original writer of the song, inspired by seeing the graves of soldiers lost in Northern France. The song tells a fictional story of a 19-year-old boy, William McBride, who died on the battlefield. William represents all the young boys who were lost in battle before their lives could even begin. In a sense, The Green Fields of France is a protest song against war. It
makes people think with lyrics such as “Do those who lie here do they know why they died? Did they really believe when they answered the call? Did they really believe that this war would end wars?” However, it is also often seen as a tribute to the fallen soldiers of WWI, specifically the young men.
Ar Éirinn Ní Neosfainn Cé Hí: Liam Clancy
Ar Éirinn Ní Neosfainn Cé Hí means for Ireland I would not tell her name. The speaker will not speak the name of the woman he loves and is trapped with unrequited feelings for. There have been many interpretations as to why, a few are religious differences, poverty, or being already married. Most of the song is in Gaelic, but it can still be enjoyed nonetheless.
Irish folk music has been the soundtrack of much of my life, and I can attest that it is one of
the most versatile and meaningful genres of music. Each song is a tribute to Ireland, its people, and its traditions, and its history. Irish folk music fosters a community that is allowed to loudly love their traditional music.
