| Live on St Patricks Day
Released September 10, 2002 Available on CD & Vinyl |
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FOR BOSTON
Written by TW Allen, Arranged by Dropkick Murphys
For Boston for Boston, we sing our proud refrain for Boston for Boston ’tis wisdom’s earthly fame
for here are all one and our hearts are true and the towers on the heights reach the heavens own blue.
for boston for boston ’til the echoes ring agin!
For Boston for Boston thy glory is our own
for Boston for Boston ’tis here that truth is known
and ever with a right shall our heirs be found ’til time shall be no more and thy work is crowned
for Boston for Boston thy glory is our own!
BOYS ON THE DOCK
Lyrics: Casey, Music: Barton
Dedicated to the memory of John Kelly
Chorus: Say hey johnny boy, the battle call United we stand, divided we fall Together we are what we can’t be alone We came to this country you made it our home
This man so humble, this man so brave A legend to many, he fought to his grave Saved family and friends from the hardship and horror In a land of depression he gave hope for tomorrow
Say johnny boy this ones for you With the strength of many and the courage of few To what do we owe this man who’s fight Was for the masses, he gave his life
(chorus)
A friend to the locals who dabbled in crime He’d give you a job and he’d give you his time He wasn’t a crook but he couldn’t be conned John knew the difference between right and wrong Say johnny me boy, you live hear no longer Others forgotten, your memories stronger Lets drink to the causes in your life Your family, your friends, the union, your wife
(chorus)
And the boys on the docks needed john for sure When they came to this country he opened the door He said men I’ll tell ya they don’t like our kind Though it starts with a fist it must end with your mind
(chorus)
ROAD OF THE RIGHTEOUS
Lyrics: McColgan, Music: Barton
Now I saw a man stand up one day and fight to save his life, just a common worker, supporting his kids and his wife, he put a plug in his jug things looked up for sure but the whole damn thing of it was there is no blasted cure
chorus: I’ve seen a few men go “The Road of the Righteous” and a few have traveled “This Old Lonely Path” I’ve seen a few men go “The Road of the Righteous” by God I’m sure we’ll see some more “go there blessed way”
Hey it’s gonna, take some foot work to get you on your way, they’ll be pit-falls and some cat-calls but hard you must persist, cause life is so precious and we have only got one shot, so if you move along and you stay God strong all the treasures will be got
chorus
UPSTARTS AND BROKEN HEARTS
Lyrics / Music: Dropkick Murphys (Casey, Barton, Kelly)
I once met a young girl filled with fire, That saw through my front to this shell of a man
She knew I’d be a handful from the start, This strong willed woman had an angels heart
The holes in these wings don’t allow me to fly
So you’d better brace for a life of pain, And if fate is the path to this better life
Somehow I feel you’ll never see the faces change
Chorus:
Through thick and thin, She stood by you
She held the key to my broken heart
I look back and wonder, Sit and ponder. How I could have ever neglected you.
For the blood soaked soil on the old ball field, I gambled on a hand I wasn’t ready to lose
But if the tables were turned and I faced the troubles, Tough times and struggles I put you through
I’d of been there as you were through hardship and horror
My life and my love are pledged to you.
Chorus:
Remember the nights she waited and wondered, fused to a myth that it had taken it’s toll.
But this Godless man has mended his way, Never again will she be alone.
I remember it well, Still I always knew that she was destined to be my bride
This woman had pride, She was full of life. I could see the passion in her eyes.
She thought she found a man, But she fell for the devil
An evil monster in disguise. Now I’ll honor and obey, Forever stay.
True to you, my Irish rose
Chorus:
THE GAUNTLET
Lyrics/Music: Dropkick Murphys
Well I just got back from a break in the fight I was weighing in heavy but still feeling alright all I hear in the distance mines and shells here come the sirens wailing another attack to be repelled do you think we’re gonna make it? I don’t know unless we try you could sit here scared to move or we could take them by surprise it’s submission that they want it’s surrender that they need when we’re doing it their way their aims will be achieved
They’re gonna come when you’re not ready when you’re not to well-prepared they’re gonna prey upon your weakness no man’s soul is ever spared you’ve got to stand up, yeah, and fight them show them what it’s all about this man is not for sale there will be no backing down
Chorus:
Stand up and fight and I’ll stand up with you! We shall succeed
They won’t get me they won’t get me thought they never cease to try they won’t get me they won’t get me I would rather fight and die they won’t get me they won’t get me well my friend will they get you? when they get you when they get you tell me what are you gonna do?
THE ROCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN
Arranged by Dropkick Murphys
In the merry month of June from my home I started left the girls of Taum nearly brokenhearted saluted me father dear, kissed me darling mother drank a pint of beer, my grief and tears to smother then off to reap the corn, leave where I was born cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghosts and goblin, brand-new pair of brogues, rattling o’er the bogs frightening all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin.
In Mullingar last night, I rested limbs so weary started by daylight next morning bright and early took a drop of the pure to keep me heart from sinking that’s the daddy’s cure when he’s on the drinking see the lassies smile, laughing all the while at me darling style, would set your heart a-bubblin’ asked me was I hired, wages I required ’til I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin.
Chorus:
Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road and all the way to Dublin, whack-fol-la-de-da!
In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity to be so soon deprived a view of that fine city decided to take a stroll all among the quality bundle, it was stole in that neat locality something crossed my mind when I looked behind no bundle could I find upon me stick a-wobblin’ crying for a rogue said me connaught brogue wasn’t much in-vogue on the rocky road to Dublin.
From there I got away, me spirits never failing landed on the quay just as the ship was sailing captain at me roared, said that no room had he then I jumped aboard a cabin found for Daddy down among the pigs, played some funny rigs, danced some hearty jigs, the water ’round me bubblin’ off to hollyhead wished myself was dead or better far instead on the rocky road to Dublin.
The boys in Liverpool, when we safely landed called myself a fool, I could no longer stand it blood began to boil, temper I was losing poor old Erin’s Isle they began abusing hooray me soul, says I, let the shellaillagh fly some galway boys were nigh, saw I was a-hobblin’ with a loud array, they joined me in the fray and soon we cleared the way on the rocky road to Dublin.
HEROES FROM OUR PAST
Written by Dropkick Murphys
And so the story’s told of a hearty group of men it’s a tale of their triumphs and their woes. Be it raids and melees ancient or the modern worker’s struggle that inspires men to stand up for their rights. And should we fall down by the wayside in this ever-changing world we can look back to these heroes of our past. With their staunch determination and ferocious iron will, no tyranny would quell them in their task.
It’s an age-old situation with an ever-present message: that time and tide waiteth for no man. So without fear of confrontation of the consequence of outcome, it’s for freedom and for happiness they toiled. An in looking to the future, we can see a better place where we can shake the yoke of tyranny for all. It’s been paved by generations who have gone now to their rest. It’s just remembrance of their dignity we ask.
Chorus:
So come on rally round this brave and valiant cause with tradition, pride, and honor at its core. With swords drawn to defend stood stood these noble-hearted men Faugh-an-ballagh, clear the way, me boys!!
Under perilous conditions with small hope of success they left behind the lives that they once led and by virtue of their fortitude and single-minded strength they cleared the way for the people of today so when we think back to our ancestors respectfully we hark and thank the men whose struggle broke the chain it’s a long road up ahead of us – let’s forge on while we’re strong and leave our mark of honor once again
So the story has been told and it comes now to an end. It’s setting any era, any land. When abusive tyrants force the hands of matters great or small, it inpires men to stand up for their rights.
FINNEGAN’S WAKE
Traditional, arranged by Dropkick Murphys
Tim Finnegan lived in Watling Street, A gentle Irishman – Mighty Odd – He’d a beautiful brogue So rich and sweet, to rise in the world He carried a hod, You see He’d sort of a Trippling way: with love for a liquor Poor Tim was born, to help him on with His work each day, He’d a drop of the Craythor every morn’
One morning Tim was rather full, his head felt Heavy, which made him shake, fell from the Ladder and broke his skull, so they carried Him home, his corpse to wake, rolled Him up in a nice clean sheet, and laided Him upon the bed, A bottle of Whiskey At his feet, and a gallon of Porter At his head
chorus: And whack Fol-De-Dah now dance to your Partner, welt the floor, your trotters shake Wasn’t it the truth I told Ye Lots of fun at Finnegan’s Wake
His friends assembled at his wake And Missus Finnegan called for lunch First they brought in tea and cake Then pipes, tobacco and Whiskey Punch Biddy OBrien begged to cry, such a Nice clean corpse did you see Arrah hold your gob see Paddy Magee
chorus:
Then O Connor took up the job “Arrah!” Biddy says she Ye’re wrong I’m Sure, Biddy then gave her a belt on The gob and left her sprawling on the Floor, there the war did soon engage Woman to Woman and Man to Man Shillelah-law was all the rage, an A Row and a Ruction soon began Mickey Maloney raised his head when a bottle Of Whiskey flew at him, it missed him falling on The Bed, the liquor scattered over Tim, Tim Revives, see how he rises, Timothy rising from the bed Whirl your Whisky around like blazes Tonamondeal, do ye think I’m dead
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
Written by Florence Reece
Our father was a union man some day i’ll be one too. The bosses fired daddy what’s our family gonna do? Come all you good workers good news to you I’ll tell of how the good old union has come in here to dewll.
Chorus: Which side are you on? Which side are you on?
My daddy was miner and I’m a miner’s son and I’ll stick with the union ’til every battles done.
They say in Marlan County there are no neutrals there you’ll either be a union man or a thug for J.H. Blair
Oh workers can you stand it? Oh tell me how you can will you be a lousy scab or will you be a man? Don’t scab for the bosses don’t listen to their lies us poor folks haven’t got a chance unless we organize.
A FEW GOOD MEN
Lyrics/Music: Dropkick Murphys
It’s time we stood up for ourselves so get up off your knees. We’ll shake off our detractors and attain our hopes and dreams and if we fall prey to in-fighting, we’re never gonna win, so put aside your differences, sing loud, sing proud
We won’t listen to their stories or be waylaid by their lies it’s a dram that’s still attainable for kids like you and I So if we all stand together singing one defiant song our voice will reach the heavens, so sing with all your heart
Chorus:
Join us in a song – we shall rise and sing stand up and be counted – sing a song for liberty join us in this song – together we shall sing rise up and be counted – sing it loud, sing it proud
We’ve been brutalized and crucified, the brunt of their attacks, is corruption not their trademark and compassion what they lack? If we can realize our common goals, the end of which is plain united and now stronger, their loss is now our gain!
CURSE OF A FALLEN SOUL
Lyrics: Casey, Music: Barton, Kelly
Another Wake, Another Time, A Premature Goodbye. I’ve watched you go and seen you pass, I always knew it wouldn’t last. Together now we mourn the loss, and remember all the fun. We’ll Drink the beer and hang out where death took another son. So all for one and one for all, do we ever wonder why. Though the reasons clear, this friend so dear was taken before his time.
chorus: So may this round be on the corpse of a dead man, with a toast that tells ofr a love you never shared. So as we dance on the grave of the misbehaved . . Raise your glass! and sing the praise of a fallen soul.
Many bow their heads for this man they know so well, with solemn thoughts they’ll drink and drug for a resurrection. (Facing death we fear no danger) While Mothers shed their tears through a vail of desperation these fiends of a vicious breed raise holy hell.
chorus:
How many times can fate be changed, the dice be rolled is there no path of least resistance, for the bold (It’s never sought and rarely taken)
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verse2:
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THE TORCH
Lyrics/Music: Dropkick Murphys
Wash away all the lines on your face that show how you’ve aged it’s a long way down – your back’s been broken you can’t make the rounds the tables are turned as the litany goes… you’re a rotten old man who’ll be covered in dirt on your knees and pray to the maker that caused you to bleed
Chorus:
Turn back the hand on the clock you’re a bitter old man who’s done nothing but work your hands to the bone on the assembly lines you’ve grown cold to the touch of the ones that you love ignorance is something you can’t over come but you’ve passed it on down and that’s something much worse for a bitter young man… is now taking the torch
Silent scorn – you’ve taken it out on the ones you adore Inside rage – they’ve left you before but they’ll come back again they’ll pray for you with all their love but this time your indifference just can’t be excused Forced amends – well it’s something you’ll die with but it goes on for them… for a bitter young man… has now taken the torch…
THE GANG’S ALL HERE
Lyrics / Music: Dropkick Murphys (Casey, Barton, Kelly)
Well the devil’s nipping at your heels and this time it’s for real
A lonely hunger starts to gnaw as you wish away the pain
Of another desperate dead end day forever filled with sadness
To forget about the pain you take your bottle, drink your grave
Chorus: Singing Hail, Hail, the Gangs All Here.
Leave your worries at the door boy, they’re not going anywhere
Hail, hail the gang’s all here
When the going gets tough, I know my friends will still be there
Well you’re walking down the road and the wind is in your face
You’re down and out and the unemployment line’s a mile long
The money in your pocket may not get you through the day
But cheer up son I know a place where mugs like us belong
Chorus:
Pick your heart up off the ground though I’m sure it weights a ton
You’re no better or no worse than any mothers son
Though you’re up against all odds and you’re backed against the wall
You recall the cheer, “The Gang’s All Here” and shout!
Chorus:
FOREVER
Lyrics/Music: Dropkick Murphys
“Never take your loved ones for granted: they could be gone tomorrow” all of my dreams seem to fall by the side like a discarded thought or the day’s fading light but I know that if I could just see you tonight forever at times we may fall, like we all tend to do but I’ll reach out and find that I’ve run into you your strength is the power that carried me through forever
Your kindness for weakness I never mistook I worried you often, yet you understood that life is so fleeting, these troubles won’t last forever inspired me truly you did from the start to not be afraid and to follow my heart there’s a piece of you with me they can’t tear apart forever
Forever I’ll find you, forever we’ll be
Forever your power and strength stays with me
THE SPICY McHAGGIS JIG
Music/Lyrics Dropkick Murphys
I’ll tell you a story, believe me it’s true a tale you’d best hope never happens to you old spicy mcHaggis, how he met his fate you I can save, but for him it’s too late
Spicy was big, burly and strong his pipes were gigantic, and so was his schlong from city to city running around looking for chicks over four hundred pounds
One night at the pub a girl caught his eye big as a house, just the right size the broad was enormous, stacked to the hilt spicy soon noticed a bulge in his kilt the piper delivered his best pick-up line thought to himself, “this beast is all mine” the portly young lady could stand for no more grabbed his cojones and went for the door
They got to her house and dimmed all the lights Spicy was in for one hell of a night he said that he loved her, he’d always be true “But Mr. McHaggis, I’ve only just met you!!”
By now he saw double through his drunken eyes neither had looks or appropriate size he came to his sense, thought to himself, “At this time of night I won’t find nothing else” he took off his shirt, she lifted her skirt, they pulled out his unit and stared to play she asked for a glove, he gave her a shove, had baby McHaggis nine months to-the-day.
Three packs a day, he’ll smoke ’til he dies Spicy McHaggis, one hell of a guy!
JOHN LAW
Music: Barton, Lyrics: Casey, McColgan
Now let me tell you about a man named John Law He’s a neighborhood cop the toughest man I ever saw A man who knows his duty, a man with a gun To the people in the neighborhood John Law is number one
Freeze, we said Stop His name was John Law For John Law, Neighborhood cop A man we know and love
When John Laws not kickin’ Ass on robbers and rapist He’s helpin little kids deliver newspapers When John Laws not chasin crackheads from their perch He’s helpin old ladies on their way to church
chorus:
He walks the Beat Riding scumbags from the streets He turns his eye to petty crime Cause John Law will never drop a dime
Suburban Anarchists who’ve never broke the law Sing about police oppression, but they’ve never met John Law He doesn’t fuck with young kids drinking in the Park But he makes the city safe for women after dark
THE WILD ROVER
Arranged by Dropkick Murphys
I’ve been a wild rover for many’s the year and I’ve spent all me money on whiskey and beer and now I’m returning with gold in great store and I never will play the wild rover no more
Chorus:
And it’s no, nay, never no, nay, never!
No more will I play the wild rover no, never, no more
I went into an alehouse I used to frequent and I told the landlady me money was spent I asked her for credit, she answered me nay such a custom as yours I could have any day
I took from me pocket ten sovereigns bright and the landlady’s eyes opened up with delight she said she had whiskeys and wines of the best and the words that she told me were only in jest
I went home to my parents, confessed what I’d done and I asked them to pardon their prodigal son and when they’d caressed me as oft times before I never will play the wild rover no more
GOOD RATS
Lyrics/Music: Dropkick Murphys
Have you ever stopped to think about what rats do for run? Sure they crawl around and scurry, yeah they’re always on the run but a rat sure likes a good time just like you and me I’ll prove it with a tale about a rat-infested brewery
It started with a little lad named vermin McCann who fell upon a drink that made him feel like quite a man he rounded up his furry boys, though some wore a frown they quickly changed their tune and they slammed a couple down.
Chorus:
One, two, one-two-three-four! Come on all you good rats we’ll send you to heaven you’ll find the pearly gates in the froth and the foam ’cause in these vats you’ve made quite a creation a potion that turned the Guinness to gold!
Like mice behind a piper, rats from all around soon headed for this factory in old Dublin Town. They surely heard the news about this fancy new rat-brew they come, they saw, they had a taste and knocked back a few
The rats wre in a tizzy addicted to the bone the hairy lugs wer giddy they were never going home like a bunch of drunken pirates prepared to walk the plank they drank, they sang, they took a plunge and in the beer they sank!
AMAZING GRACE
Traditional. Arranged: Dropkick Murphys (Casey, Barton, Kelly)
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to feel
‘Twas grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed
BARROOM HERO
Music: Barton, Lyrics: Casey
Face down in the gutter won’t admit defeat though his clothes are soiled and black, he’s a big, strong man with a childs mind, Don’t you take his booze away!
He’s been at it for years drinkin’ balls and beer he’s a hero to most he meets but inside he cries black swollen eyes this man he sheds no tears Now his wife & kids sing a different tune as they worry about their daddy dyin but this arrogant fool breaks every rule it’ll be nothing but pride that kills him
Chorus 2X
Could he listen no he won’t that’s all she wrote he’ll be dead before the daylight shines but the thoughts and prayers of a million strong might keep this boy from dying
He’s a legend in the bar with every scar fights a thousand bigger men, but now he fights and loses got all the bruises will someone please step in? Cause this Irish fools got a great big heart he keeps climbing back in to the ring In the low down circles where he holds his court this man he once was kind
Chorus2X
Verse 2
Chorus 2X