# I've recorded a fake Irish folk ballad **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 17, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231 "2015-03-17T21:21:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/1 "2015-03-17T21:21:07Z")
Since St. Patrick’s Day is upon us, I’d just like to share with y’all that I’ve recorded a fake “Irish” folk ballad I heard in a dream back in 2004. It’s here: (Note that I have ads turned OFF for my YouTube channel, so as to make my videos as un-annoying as possible. I ain’t doin’ this for any ad revenue, lemme tells ya – not that a video with 42 total views would rake in the cash even if I was.) ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/2 "2015-03-17T21:42:03Z")
Fun! In my opinion, the falsetto doesn’t add anything; I’d love to hear it in a range more fitting to your natural voice. But the writing is delightful, and the tune is a joy! From the tune alone, one could easily think it a true traditional piece. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/3 "2015-03-17T22:00:59Z")
It’s supposed to be sung by an old Irish woman. I didn’t have any old Irish women available, so I _had_ to use my Falsetto. ---
**Author:** ![Hopeful\_Crow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/da6949/32.png) [@Hopeful\_Crow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hopeful_Crow)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/4 "2015-03-17T23:57:36Z")
Loved it! Thanks for sharing. I listened to the Tritium one after, too. You have a great voice, falsetto or not. Once, back in the day, I dreamed a whole John Denver song that he’d never sung and, way back even before then, that I was a backup singer for Neil Diamond. Of course, by the time I’d awoken, I couldn’t remember a single word and barely any of the tunes. That you could dream up a whole song _ **and** _ remember it so well simultaneously astounds me and makes me happy to have gotten to hear the results. Thanks again! You’re quite talented! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/5 "2015-03-18T00:03:26Z")
I like it even at a first listen! That is an fully developed folk ballad that sounds completely legit. I am impressed you can write full songs like that in your dreams. Great job! ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/6 "2015-03-18T00:08:14Z")
> [@tracer](#): > > a fake “Irish” folk ballad Nothing new in the world. Many of the Irish folk ballads (some of which are popular in AUS) were written by professional musicians in California in the 19th Century. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/7 "2015-03-18T00:15:57Z")
> [@Hopeful\_Crow](#): > > That you could dream up a whole song _ **and** _ remember it so well simultaneously astounds me Well … er … I didn’t hear the **whole** song in the dream. In fact, I didn’t even hear an entire verse. I heard fragments of the tune, and a hint of the lyrics. The rest was all personal embellishment. If I’d followed the dream exactly, it would have been sung by a woman in a Clorox 2 commercial… ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/8 "2015-03-18T00:18:44Z")
Here’s another tune I heard in a dream, over the approximate amount of time I heard it in the dream. It’s so short I haven’t even converted it from MIDI yet: [http://www.rogermwilcox.com/midi/Dream%20Fanfare%2020-Nov-2011.mid](http://www.rogermwilcox.com/midi/Dream%20Fanfare%2020-Nov-2011.mid) EDIT: Note that it sounds suspiciously similar to the 1990s TriStar Pictures logo theme. My dream songs aren’t nearly as original as I like to give 'em credit for. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/9 "2015-03-18T02:55:48Z")
> [@tracer](#): > > It’s supposed to be sung by an old Irish woman. I didn’t have any old Irish women available, so I _had_ to use my Falsetto. Grin! To tell the truth, I kept hearing it as sung by a young Irish woman! More seriously, I think the vocal integrity is more important than – what’s the term? – casting? The song would have been every bit as wonderful, transposed down and sung by a bloomin’ baritone. As they say in moral-driven American TV, “Be true to yourself.” Sing in your best register. Anyway, I apologize, as I didn’t mean to sound overly critical. I enjoyed the song immensely! ---
**Author:** ![Steken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Steken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steken)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/10 "2015-03-18T06:53:32Z")
This is awesome. Just awesome. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/11 "2015-03-18T08:49:24Z")
Don’t worry, I have AdBlock. The “falsetto” is offputting, but I like the rest. You’re obviously a dude. I wouldn’t mind a second version at all. My standby fake Irish song is Denis Leary’s “[Traditional Irish Folk Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbeLu_3Wf_k)” (I think it’s called). Lyrical content is also accurate. > [@Melbourne](#): > > Nothing new in the world. Many of the Irish folk ballads (some of which are popular in AUS) were written by professional musicians in California in the 19th Century. Who/what? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/12 "2015-03-18T18:48:12Z")
Curious where you came up with the construction “She are green”. ETA: Lovely melody, some Americanisms like Fall 🙂 I think it would sound amazing sung by Susan McKeown. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/13 "2015-03-18T18:53:27Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Don’t worry, I have AdBlock. > > The “falsetto” is offputting, but I like the rest. You’re obviously a dude. I wouldn’t mind a second version at all. > > My standby fake Irish song is Denis Leary’s “[Traditional Irish Folk Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbeLu_3Wf_k)” (I think it’s called). Lyrical content is also accurate. > Who/what? I think melbourne is mistaken about California but NY songsmiths did create many songs that are now considered part of the Irish ballad tradition. I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen [I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27ll_Take_You_Home_Again,_Kathleen) is the first example that springs to my mind but there are plenty of others. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/14 "2015-03-18T19:04:56Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I think melbourne is mistaken about California but NY songsmiths did create many songs that are now considered part of the Irish ballad tradition. > > I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen [I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27ll_Take_You_Home_Again,_Kathleen) is the first example that springs to my mind but there are plenty of others. Oops, just rereading that wiki I see that this writer was in Indiana but the phenomenon of professional NYC songwriters writing Irish style ballads did exist. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/15 "2015-03-19T00:13:32Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Curious where you came up with the construction “She are green”. Did I mention that my knowledge of fake Irish phraseology comes almost entirely from Lucky Charms commercials? 😉 But seriously, folks, I think this odd phrasing came from the dream. It sounded British-Isles-ish enough for my subconscious, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/16 "2015-03-19T00:19:39Z")
BTW, since the time I put it up on YouTube, I’ve tweaked the accompaniment a bit to clean up some of the rough spots. (The falsetto is still noticeable in a couple of places, though.) The slightly-cleaned-up version is here: [http://www.rogermwilcox.com/audio/She%20Are%20Green.mp3](http://www.rogermwilcox.com/audio/She%20Are%20Green.mp3) Unfortunately, YouTube doesn’t let me replace the audio track of a given video with another audio track, and if I uploaded a whole new video it would put it at a new URL. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/17 "2015-03-19T01:49:04Z")
> [@tracer](#): > > It’s supposed to be sung by an old Irish woman. I didn’t have any old Irish women available, so I _had_ to use my Falsetto. You could pretend she’s an alto. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/18 "2015-03-19T01:54:22Z")
[Ah, those Irish songs!](https://screen.yahoo.com/irish-songs-000000345.html) ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/19 "2015-03-19T03:38:21Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > You could pretend she’s an alto. I DID pretend she was an alto. If she were a soprano, I’d have had to be in falsetto the entire time! ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231/20 "2015-03-19T22:26:11Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > ETA: Lovely melody, some Americanisms like Fall 🙂 I suppose I could have instead phrased the second verse like so: “But just as the springtime gives way to the summer And summer gives way to the autumn, The green of my youth slowly waned from its zenith Until at last it hit rock bottom.” … but that would’ve sounded awfully hokey. 😉 Other ideas that didn’t make it into the final product include this rendition of the second chorus, for what should be obvious reasons: “She are green! She are green! Green like the neophyte, Green like the traffic light, Lord count the ways she are green!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-recorded-a-fake-irish-folk-ballad/715231.md?page=2)