1. |
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(Chorus)
Let the [G]grasses grow and the [C]waters flow in a [G]free and easy [D]way,
But give [G]me enough of the [C]rare auld stuff that's [G]made near [D]Galway [G]Bay,
And [G]policeman all from Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim [C]too,
We'll [G]give them the slip, and we'll [C]take a sip of the [G]rare auld [D]mountain [G]dew.
There's a neat little still at the foot of the hill, where the smoke curls up to the sky,
By a whiff of the smell, you can plainly tell, there's poteen boys nearby,
And it fills the air with a perfume rare, and betwixt both me and you,
As home we stroll we can take a bowl of the rare auld mountain dew.
(Chorus)
Now learned men as use the pen have writ thy praises high,
Of the sweet poteen, from Ireland green, distilled with wheat and rye,
Away with yer pills, it will cure all ills, be you pagan, christian or jew,
So take off your coat and grease your throat with the rare auld mountain dew.
(Chorus)
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2. |
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Circle up, now sing your songs, bare your naked soul,
With temperamental majesty, declare the years toll,
As the withered audience listens to the mournful keen,
There's no beer strong enough to mellow this dread scene.
(Chorus)
Well I'm the fool amongst the keeners, the joker amongst the pride,
There's tears a plenty to be shared, for the mourners road is wide,
I'm laughing when there's frowning, I'm your man at the wake,
For I'll surely be a dancing, down the narrow road I take.
The dirge and blues are coming,the singer's in full bloom,
Let's all sit and listen, to this sordid private doom.
But you know the lark's still singing in the morning time,
And after the storm's washing you're sure to hear his chime.
(Chorus)
I've sung my share of dirges, and murder ballads more,
But I'll ne'er leave you hanging in that rotten sullen moore,
Sure there's death a plenty out there and around each corner doom,
But life was made for laughing and dancing round this womb.
(Chorus)
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3. |
First Shoots of Spring
10:44
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Don’t leave me love, don’t leave me love, don’t leave me all alone,
But I see now that you’re already gone,
The cold winter winds have come take you away,
And left me here all alone within this land so grey.
(chorus)
Like to a newborn child, a lullaby we sing,
Hope is born anew on the first shoots of spring,
When winter passes by and all seems dead,
Hope is born anew on the first shoots of spring.
A darkness love, a darkness love has come over me,
The light is dim, the night so bleak, I can hardly see,
Now all alone I hope and pray for the dawn,
Till first I see the gentle rays of the rising sun.
(chorus)
A journey love, a journey love, I have made,
Through Samhain’s March I dared to cross unto Beltaine,
The dying time has left me so bitter cold,
I journey now, I journey now, into the Spring!
(chorus)
(chorus)
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4. |
Deeper Dance
04:40
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I have watched ever longingly at the echoes of your soul,
Every subtle passing move, the corners of your lips and eyes,
Speaking of your inner life to me.
What more needs to be said, what message could the wind bear,
That I've not already heard, most truly observed,
As you stand right before me.
(Chorus)
Let us dance a deeper dance,
No more echoes through dust and clay,
All hearts beat as one.
Now who is master and who is slave? are we not now one body?
Let us beat in time, let us all now align,
To the one true living heart.
The music it ever plays, the eternal voices singing,
Down through the ages, upon the Earth's very stage,
It's only the beginning...
(Chorus)
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5. |
Whistle Improv
05:21
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6. |
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7. |
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8. |
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9. |
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(Chorus)
It couldn’t have been the whiskey that left me in this state,
A bottle of finest, the best for goodness sake!
The company was the kindest, ceol, ól agus craic!
It couldn’t have been the whiskey, no! It must be something else!
Allen was a buying dram’s for everyone,
The music was a flying so fast I couldn’t keep up,
So I started singing, “Bimid ag Ól”, [We be drinking]
It couldn’t have been the whiskey, no! It must be something else!
(Chorus)
Now Ted he was joking, as was oft’ his style,
Laughing and cavorting,“Ag pógadh na mban”, [and kissing the ladies]
The ladies were a dancing, it was such a sight.
It couldn’t have been the whiskey, no! It must be something else!
(Chorus)
Now I’ll truly own, we were up rather late,
The room it was a whirlin’, I had to take me seat,
“bímis ag ól is ag rince le ceol” [we be drinking and dancing and playing music]
It couldn’t have been the whiskey, no! It must be something else!
(Chorus)
Now Katherine was a screaming in the morning time,
“Now ‘There’s the Day’ darlin’, you’ll get no rest this time!”
The whiskey she was cursing, “Oh no, it’s not to blame!
It couldn’t have been the whiskey, no! It must be something else!
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
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10. |
Tenor Banjo Solo
04:03
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11. |
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There I was standing in the bar,
Sipping on the waters of life.
My mind being cloudy, my thoughts unclear,
Till a sure clarity came over me.
(chorus)
Wake up and smell the whiskey,
Don’t let your life pass you by,
Life can be hard, a heart can grow numb,
So wake up and smell the whiskey!
Standing with me mates, all around me,
There was no other place I’d rather be,
And who’s to say that life’s true purpose,
Isn’t like social meetings.
(chorus)
The day’s toil, it breaks my back,
And leaves my mind in disarray,
It makes me want to lay me down, and dream my life away,
But I know that the dream is really here.
(chorus)
(chorus)
Wake up and smell the whiskey!
Wake up and smell the whiskey!
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12. |
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13. |
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Lying here in darkness, in Silence,
I cannot taste, I cannot feel.
A weary heart of stone, cold and still,
buried neath the layers of worry and doubt.
The seasons change all around me
I am unmoved in my winter time
The hoary frost gathers all around,
My lonely beggars tomb.
Like a mighty trump from above,
the fiddle plays full of love,
My heart starts to beat in time.
I’ve no more time to spend,
Lying here in silence,
Oh I feel so alive!
You make me want to dance out of my grave,
You make me want to dance out of my grave,
Oh you make me feel alive!
You make me want to dance out of my grave,
You make me want to dance out of my grave,
Oh you make me feel alive!
Each chord shimmering with life,
Harmonies cut like a knife,
Through the darkness surrounding me.
How can this song be contained,
In this cold cold clay,
Breaking through the Earth I bloom to see the day.
You make me want to dance out of my grave,
You make me want to dance out of my grave,
Oh you make me feel alive!
You make me want to dance out of my grave,
You make me want to dance out of my grave,
Oh you make me feel alive!
A mighty wind from above descends upon us,
As we beat as one,
Fiery tongues of love rest upon us,
And we speak what the world has never heard.
Oh we’re dancing, we’re dancing,
This is life.
Oh we’re dancing, we’re dancing,
This is life.
about
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James Olin Oden Raleigh, North Carolina
It's always been about what moves the heart. The songs I sing are compelling stories whose telling must be told over and
over again. The stories range from dark acts that should not be forgotten to the silly revelries that we should never forsake. My hope is that as my heart is moved by the music so too may yours be moved.
Sláinte Mhór...James
Licks and Lyrics Interview on WCOM 103.5: http://t
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