# Irish Music's Free Bird, Stairway to Heaven? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 13, 2017, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086 "2017-03-13T13:28:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/1 "2017-03-13T13:28:32Z")
If you go an Irish bar, what song might the band be sick of getting requests for? A song with lyrics, please, rather than an instrumental. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/2 "2017-03-13T13:29:30Z")
“Danny Boy”? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/3 "2017-03-13T13:43:11Z")
Black Velvet Band. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/4 "2017-03-13T13:47:23Z")
Irish Washerwoman? Whiskey Before Breakfast? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/5 "2017-03-13T13:50:01Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Irish Washerwoman? > Whiskey Before Breakfast? I have never heard of either of these? Seriously? ETA: And “A song with lyrics, please, rather than an instrumental.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Pork-Chop\_Express](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@The\_Pork-Chop\_Express](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Pork-Chop_Express)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/6 "2017-03-13T14:05:01Z")
I assume you mean an Irish bar outside of Ireland, but on the off chance you mean an Irish bar in Ireland, well, it’s rare enough that a pub band would take requests (it’s usually more of a wedding thing). As a dedicated booze hound, the only time I’ve ever seen someone go up to a band to ask for a song was when the person was properly drunk. It’s just not really a thing we do. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/7 "2017-03-13T14:21:17Z")
Whiskey In The Jar is probably the most famous trad song. Keep in mind that there is a difference between songs (include lyrics) and tunes (no lyrics) [This is a pretty good list of stuff you might hear from a pub band.](http://www.irish-folk-songs.com/most-popular-irish-songs.html) ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/8 "2017-03-13T14:30:42Z")
> [@The\_Pork-Chop\_Express](#): > > I assume you mean an Irish bar outside of Ireland, but on the off chance you mean an Irish bar in Ireland, well, it’s rare enough that a pub band would take requests (it’s usually more of a wedding thing). > > As a dedicated booze hound, the only time I’ve ever seen someone go up to a band to ask for a song was when the person was properly drunk. It’s just not really a thing we do. My question and thinking were U.S.-centric, but I appreciate your info. It’s interesting. “Danny Boy” is probably The Answer, but it’s just too iconic. (I’m writing some promo copy for a music show.) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/9 "2017-03-13T14:37:17Z")
The Wild Rover? ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/10 "2017-03-13T15:08:21Z")
> [@beagledave](#): > > Whiskey In The Jar is probably the most famous trad song. > > [This is a pretty good list of stuff you might hear from a pub band.](http://www.irish-folk-songs.com/most-popular-irish-songs.html) Thank you. That’s probably the information I wanted, plus some Youtube links to explore for entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/11 "2017-03-13T15:23:54Z")
> [@beagledave](#): > > Whiskey In The Jar is probably the most famous trad song. > > Keep in mind that there is a difference between songs (include lyrics) and tunes (no lyrics) > > [This is a pretty good list of stuff you might hear from a pub band.](http://www.irish-folk-songs.com/most-popular-irish-songs.html) That’s an interesting link, top 30 Irish songs of all time, and Steve Earle’s Galway Girl is No.3! It is a cool song. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/12 "2017-03-13T16:02:58Z")
An Irish/punk band I like always does a tune they call **The Irish National Anthem**. It goes something like this: > [@](#): > > Weeeeeeeeeee > drink, we drink, we drink we drink, > we drink, we drink, we drink. > We drink, we drink, we drink, we drink, > we beat our fucking kids. > > Weeeeeeeeeeeee > drink, we drink, we drink, we drink, > we drink, we drink, we drink. > We drink, we drink, we drink, we drink, > we hate the Protestants. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/13 "2017-03-13T16:07:44Z")
FWIW, “name an Irish song” was a category on a classic episode of Family Feud yesterday. Now, I haven’t heard of half of these, but here were the answers from 100 people surveyed: When Irish Eyes Are Smiling Danny Boy Wild Irish Rose Mother Machree I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen (which isn’t even Irish) Those are in order from most popular to least popular, but there may have been one more below “Wild Irish Rose.” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/14 "2017-03-13T17:15:09Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen (which isn’t even Irish) Though, it was nonetheless repeatedly sung by an Irishman, Lieutenant Kevin Riley, over the Enterprise’s comm system in the Star Trek episode “The Naked Time.” ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/15 "2017-03-13T17:50:07Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > If you go an Irish bar, what song might the band be sick of getting requests for? A song with lyrics, please, rather than an instrumental. What do you think an Irish bar is? Damn sure I never hear Danny boy or any of the random stuff mentioned in this thread when I go for a pint at the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/16 "2017-03-13T18:03:43Z")
Maybe the Unicorn Song? ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/17 "2017-03-13T18:14:28Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > What do you think an Irish bar is? Damn sure I never hear Danny boy or any of the random stuff mentioned in this thread when I go for a pint at the weekend. It’s possible we’re all confused, and maybe not just me, but there are (1) bars in Ireland, and (2) an American institution called an Irish Pub. They used to just have Irish names and Irish beers and shamrocks in the decoration (plus lots of polished wood inside, if they were nice ones). These-a-days they’re morphing into gastropubs that serve !!!authentic!!! boxty and corned beef alongside the lovingly hand-pulled Guinness. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/18 "2017-03-13T18:51:23Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > (2) an American institution called an Irish Pub. I’m not even entirely sure this is an American thing. It seems like wherever I go in the world, there’s an “Irish Pub” somewhere to be found. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/19 "2017-03-13T19:09:33Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > Maybe the Unicorn Song? I was thinking of that song, specifically because it’s one of the only “Irish” songs which which American kids may be familiar (and, thus, ask to hear). (For pulykamell: this is the song that they would play on WGN's \*Ray Rayner and His Friends\* show in the 1960s and 1970s, for Lester Fisher's "Ark in the Park" segment.) ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086/20 "2017-03-13T19:11:13Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > That’s an interesting link, top 30 Irish songs of all time, and Steve Earle’s Galway Girl is No.3! It is a cool song. Great tune (basically the same tune as his Dixieland). You ever hear the ditty “Mactavish is dead”? That’s the Irish Washerwoman. Re: Whiskey before Breakfast - I play a lot of bluegrass/folk, and often have a hard time distinguishing between Irish and fiddle tunes. I thought Whiskey was Irish, and it seems to be one of the most called tunes in the jams I frequent. I’m probably mistaken. You know the old saw, Why do fiddle tunes have names? So you can tell them apart! Whiskey in the Jar and Wild Rover are pretty common as well. For some reason I consider Finnegan’s Wake to be in the same vein. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling is nearly as schmaltzy as Danny Boy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irish-musics-free-bird-stairway-to-heaven/782086.md?page=2)