# Looking for good UK and Irish pub songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 9, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216 "2010-09-09T19:48:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/1 "2010-09-09T19:48:33Z")
Rehearsed last night with a quartet to play in a local Irish pub. We discussed all the old standards that have been around forever, Wild Colonial Boy Whiskey in the Jar etc but I’ve enjoyed looking up more current Irish artists Mary Black, Chris Moore has some great songs. Go Move Shift is awesome. Someone mentioned that A John Prine Song “The Speed of The Sound of Loneliness” was huge in Ireland so we’re doing that. So UK Dopers , Irish Dopers, or fans of the genre, what are some of the more recent {within 5 to 10 years} songs that have been big in Ireland by Irish artists. What old classics are still very popular in the pubs. What do people sing live. U2 maybe? Some folks from British airways taught me some dirty verses to “Ghost Riders in the Sky” some years ago and they still work. Off color or suggestive pub songs welcome. Audience participation is good. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/2 "2010-09-09T20:04:07Z")
Singing songs ‘arand-tha-piyana’ is a bit of a dead art in the UK. If you find a pub with live music, it will either be an Irish-themed place or some dodgy local group singing pop classics from the 70s. Classic British pub songs focus on the era around WWI and II - “It’s a long way to Tipperary”, “Roll out the barrel”, “Pack up your troubles in yer old kit back”, but you don’t hear these anymore outside of [Eastenders](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastenders) 20 years ago I used to frequent a pub with a regular, popular, guitar singer – his most popular pub songs were “Dirty Old Town” (which is actually an English, not Irish, song) and “American pie” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/3 "2010-09-09T20:08:36Z")
If a song by a Scotsman about Aussies and wonderfully performed by the Pogues counts, I’d say that for a quiet part of the set “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda” is incredible for a pub band. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/4 "2010-09-09T20:29:59Z")
[Crazy World](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHeiVDSdoCM&feature=fvw) by Aslan was huge. Any Irish person in the room would be able to sing along. Even if they weren’t a fan of Aslan it was impossible to avoid for years and is still played a lot here. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/5 "2010-09-09T20:44:28Z")
[The Galway Girl](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFlfSeh-Ts8)was recently revived and was enormous and still very popular. [Say You Love Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0upvkcZI2cc&feature=related) is one I hear a lot. [Las Vegas (In The Hills Of Donegal)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Qe6LjGjX8) is the alternative National Anthem to some people. [Damien Dempsey](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UIzkN64NGg) is another artist to check out. Caledonia goes down a storm too. There are dozens of versions of it out there. Lakes Of Pontchartrain. If anyone actually speaks Irish in the band, [Conamara](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFcU9fMpFjE) would be a great one to do in a pub setting. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/6 "2010-09-09T20:45:42Z")
I forgot [Almost Irish](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8WXhWSvUmk) by Ceann. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/7 "2010-09-09T20:49:21Z")
Used to live in the west of Ireland and with tedious inevitability it was always: [The Fields of Athenry](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtQ6a8gA7qk) Looooooooooooow Liiiiiiiieeeeeee etc, adds generous amounts of Guinness. In Galway they all sang: [Galway Girl](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Nt_TirDyKU) The Christy Moore one that everyone was always singing is: [Ride On](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-z7M3FZv4E) But I personally find that a bit of a dirge and it seems to be the preserve of young Irish lads seeking to celtically charm tourist girls. I have a weak spot for [Dicey Reilly](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz4508Vk05A) though can’t in all honesty say I’ve head that sang much. Singing in pubs does happen in Ireland, though. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/8 "2010-09-09T20:55:04Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > [Las Vegas (In The Hills Of Donegal)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Qe6LjGjX8) is the alternative National Anthem to some people. Oooooh yes. :smack: How could I forget. 😃 If one of ye is a truly good singer they might also try [Raglan Road](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuafmLvoJow). Not a drinking song, but one I’ve often heard when secretly drinking and playing music after hours. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/9 "2010-09-09T21:04:42Z")
> [@PookahMacPhellimey](#): > > Oooooh yes. :smack: How could I forget. 😃 > > If one of ye is a truly good singer they might also try > > [Raglan Road](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuafmLvoJow). It’s sang a fair bit in pubs I’ve been in. Luke’s performance is world class, I prefer this [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBndHNJoC0k&feature=related) though as you get to see the performance. Luke kicks in 19 secs in. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/10 "2010-09-09T21:43:48Z")
The Old Dun Cow. The Drunk/Drunken Scotsman. Seven Drunken Nights. Bridget Flynn. Come Out Ye Black and Tans (maybe not a good choice for a British audience). You can find several versions of each on YouTube. ---
**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:** [September 9, 2010, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/11 "2010-09-09T21:54:10Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > > [@PookahMacPhellimey](#): > > > > Oooooh yes. :smack: How could I forget. 😃 > > > > If one of ye is a truly good singer they might also try > > > > [Raglan Road](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuafmLvoJow). > > It’s sang a fair bit in pubs I’ve been in. Luke’s performance is world class, I prefer this [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBndHNJoC0k&feature=related) though as you get to see the performance. Luke kicks in 19 secs in. I can sing it \*nearly \*as well as the great master. I’d get barred from Grogan’s if I tried airing it there though! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/12 "2010-09-09T23:31:31Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Singing songs ‘arand-tha-piyana’ is a bit of a dead art in the UK. If you find a pub with live music, it will either be an Irish-themed place or some dodgy local group singing pop classics from the 70s. > > Classic British pub songs focus on the era around WWI and II - “It’s a long way to Tipperary”, “Roll out the barrel”, “Pack up your troubles in yer old kit back”, but you don’t hear these anymore outside of [Eastenders](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastenders) > > 20 years ago I used to frequent a pub with a regular, popular, guitar singer – his most popular pub songs were “Dirty Old Town” (which is actually an English, not Irish, song) and “American pie” 🙂 Interesting. I just learned Dirty Ole Town. I’'ve done American Pie for a long time. It was a huge favorite song along at colleges years ago. Haven’t tried it in a while. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/13 "2010-09-09T23:32:33Z")
> [@villa](#): > > If a song by a Scotsman about Aussies and wonderfully performed by the Pogues counts, I’d say that for a quiet part of the set “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda” is incredible for a pub band. Another great one. One of the best anti war songs ever. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/14 "2010-09-09T23:35:58Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > [Crazy World](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHeiVDSdoCM&feature=fvw) by Aslan was huge. Any Irish person in the room would be able to sing along. Even if they weren’t a fan of Aslan it was impossible to avoid for years and is still played a lot here. Cool song. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/15 "2010-09-09T23:42:03Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > [The Galway Girl](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFlfSeh-Ts8)was recently revived and was enormous and still very popular. > > [Say You Love Me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0upvkcZI2cc&feature=related) is one I hear a lot. > > [Las Vegas (In The Hills Of Donegal)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Qe6LjGjX8) is the alternative National Anthem to some people. > > [Damien Dempsey](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UIzkN64NGg) is another artist to check out. > > Caledonia goes down a storm too. There are dozens of versions of it out there. > > Lakes Of Pontchartrain. > > If anyone actually speaks Irish in the band, [Conamara](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFcU9fMpFjE) would be a great one to do in a pub setting. Awesome. I love O Halloran’s version of Courtin in the kitchen. Las Vegas in Donnegal A natural for an American Irish Pub. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/16 "2010-09-09T23:44:32Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I forgot [Almost Irish](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8WXhWSvUmk) by Ceann. Love it. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/17 "2010-09-09T23:46:04Z")
> [@PookahMacPhellimey](#): > > > [@An\_Gadai](#): > > > > [Las Vegas (In The Hills Of Donegal)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Qe6LjGjX8) is the alternative National Anthem to some people. > > Oooooh yes. :smack: How could I forget. 😃 > > If one of ye is a truly good singer they might also try > > [Raglan Road](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuafmLvoJow). > > Not a drinking song, but one I’ve often heard when secretly drinking and playing music after hours. Well,…that would be me. :o It’s a great song. we worked on it last night. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/18 "2010-09-09T23:50:58Z")
Some most excellent suggestions and new artists to check out. Many thanks. No dirty little ditties? ---
**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:** [September 10, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/19 "2010-09-10T00:04:11Z")
I suppose [the Waxie’s Dargle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2vZPXEf0tY) is sorta saucy. There’s also [Monto](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=canPrRj01XI&feature=fvst). ---
**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:** [September 10, 2010, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216/20 "2010-09-10T00:11:55Z")
[The Glendalough Saint](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHPAI4iuEQo). [The Limerick Rake](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8moLHIW8xw&feature=related). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-good-uk-and-irish-pub-songs/553216.md?page=2)