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In the merry month of June, now from me home, I started
Left the girls of Tuam were nearly broken-hearted
Saluted father dear, kissed me darling mother
Drank a pint of beer, me grief and tears to smother
Then off to reap the corn, and leave where I was born
Cut a stout, black thorn to banish ghosts and goblins
A brand-new pair of brogues to rattle over the bogs
And frighten all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare, and turn her down the rocky road
And all the ways to Dublin, whack-fol lolly-rah
In Mullingar that night, I rested limbs so weary
Started by daylight, next morning blithe and early
Took a drop of the pure to keep me heart from shrinking
That’s the Paddy’s cure when’er he’s on for drinking
To see the lassies smile, laughing all the while
At me curious style, ‘twould set your heart a-bubblin’
They asked me was I hired, and wages I required till I
Was nearly tired of the rocky road to Dublin
(Chorus)
In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity
To be so soon deprived a view of that fine city
So then I took a stroll, all among the quality
Bundle it was stole, in a neat locality
Something crossed me mind, when I looked behind
No bundle could I find upon me stick a-wobblin’
‘Quiring for the rogue, said me Connaught brogue
It wasn’t much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin
Chorus)
From there I got away, me spirits never falling
Landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailing
Captain at me roared, said that no room had he
When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy
Down among the pigs, did some hearty rigs
I played some hearty jigs, the water round me bubbling
When off Holy head I wished meself was dead
Or better far instead on the rocky road to Dublin
(Chorus)
The boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed
Called meself a fool, I could no longer stand it
Blood began to boil, temper I was losing
Poor old Erin’s Isle they began abusing
“Hurrah me soul” says I, me Shillelagh I let fly
Galway’s boys were by and saw I was a hobblin’
With a loud “hurray” they joined in the affray
Quickly cleared the way for the rocky road to Dublin
(Chorus)
If Wishes Were Fishes (Eric Bogle)
I wish I was home again, at home in my heart again.
It’s been a long time since my heart talked to me.
Wastin’ my precious days wishin’ my life away.
If wishes were fishes, we’d all cast nets in the sea.
And I wish I was young again, my song still to be sung again.
The sweet tunes of my life have gone sour and off key.
Writin’ my tired old rhymes, tryin’ to turn back time.
If wishes were fishes, we’d all cast nets in the sea.
If wishes were fishes, I know where I’d be:
Casting my net in the dark rolling sea.
And if my net’s empty when it comes back to shore,
I’ll throw it away and go fishing no more.
I wish I could care again, reach out and share again,
Mend what’s been broken and let it run free.
The older I get, it seems, the more wishin’ takes the place of dreams.
If wishes were fishes, we’d all cast nets in the sea.
If wishes were fishes, I know where I’d be:
Casting my net in the dark rolling sea.
And if my net’s empty when it comes back to shore,
I’ll throw it away and go fishing no more.
I wish I was home again, at home in my heart again.
It’s been a long time since my heart talked to me.
Wastin’ my precious days, wishin’ my life away.
If wishes were fishes, we’d all cast nets in the sea.
Credits: All written text, song lyrics and music (including background music) written and composed by Quentin Bega unless otherwise specified in the credits section after individual posts. Illustrative excerpts from other texts identified clearly within each podcast. I donate to and use Wikipedia frequently as one of the saner sources of information on the web.
Technical Stuff: Microphone-songs Shure SM58; (for the podcast spoken content) Audio Technica AT 2020 front-facing with pop filter); Apogee 76K also used for songs and spoken text. For recording and mixing down: 64-bit N-Track Studio 10 Extended used; Rubix 22 also used for mixing of microphone(s) and instruments. I use the Band in a Box/RealBand 2023 combo for music composition.
By Quentin BegaIn the merry month of June, now from me home, I started
Left the girls of Tuam were nearly broken-hearted
Saluted father dear, kissed me darling mother
Drank a pint of beer, me grief and tears to smother
Then off to reap the corn, and leave where I was born
Cut a stout, black thorn to banish ghosts and goblins
A brand-new pair of brogues to rattle over the bogs
And frighten all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five
Hunt the hare, and turn her down the rocky road
And all the ways to Dublin, whack-fol lolly-rah
In Mullingar that night, I rested limbs so weary
Started by daylight, next morning blithe and early
Took a drop of the pure to keep me heart from shrinking
That’s the Paddy’s cure when’er he’s on for drinking
To see the lassies smile, laughing all the while
At me curious style, ‘twould set your heart a-bubblin’
They asked me was I hired, and wages I required till I
Was nearly tired of the rocky road to Dublin
(Chorus)
In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity
To be so soon deprived a view of that fine city
So then I took a stroll, all among the quality
Bundle it was stole, in a neat locality
Something crossed me mind, when I looked behind
No bundle could I find upon me stick a-wobblin’
‘Quiring for the rogue, said me Connaught brogue
It wasn’t much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin
Chorus)
From there I got away, me spirits never falling
Landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailing
Captain at me roared, said that no room had he
When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy
Down among the pigs, did some hearty rigs
I played some hearty jigs, the water round me bubbling
When off Holy head I wished meself was dead
Or better far instead on the rocky road to Dublin
(Chorus)
The boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed
Called meself a fool, I could no longer stand it
Blood began to boil, temper I was losing
Poor old Erin’s Isle they began abusing
“Hurrah me soul” says I, me Shillelagh I let fly
Galway’s boys were by and saw I was a hobblin’
With a loud “hurray” they joined in the affray
Quickly cleared the way for the rocky road to Dublin
(Chorus)
If Wishes Were Fishes (Eric Bogle)
I wish I was home again, at home in my heart again.
It’s been a long time since my heart talked to me.
Wastin’ my precious days wishin’ my life away.
If wishes were fishes, we’d all cast nets in the sea.
And I wish I was young again, my song still to be sung again.
The sweet tunes of my life have gone sour and off key.
Writin’ my tired old rhymes, tryin’ to turn back time.
If wishes were fishes, we’d all cast nets in the sea.
If wishes were fishes, I know where I’d be:
Casting my net in the dark rolling sea.
And if my net’s empty when it comes back to shore,
I’ll throw it away and go fishing no more.
I wish I could care again, reach out and share again,
Mend what’s been broken and let it run free.
The older I get, it seems, the more wishin’ takes the place of dreams.
If wishes were fishes, we’d all cast nets in the sea.
If wishes were fishes, I know where I’d be:
Casting my net in the dark rolling sea.
And if my net’s empty when it comes back to shore,
I’ll throw it away and go fishing no more.
I wish I was home again, at home in my heart again.
It’s been a long time since my heart talked to me.
Wastin’ my precious days, wishin’ my life away.
If wishes were fishes, we’d all cast nets in the sea.
Credits: All written text, song lyrics and music (including background music) written and composed by Quentin Bega unless otherwise specified in the credits section after individual posts. Illustrative excerpts from other texts identified clearly within each podcast. I donate to and use Wikipedia frequently as one of the saner sources of information on the web.
Technical Stuff: Microphone-songs Shure SM58; (for the podcast spoken content) Audio Technica AT 2020 front-facing with pop filter); Apogee 76K also used for songs and spoken text. For recording and mixing down: 64-bit N-Track Studio 10 Extended used; Rubix 22 also used for mixing of microphone(s) and instruments. I use the Band in a Box/RealBand 2023 combo for music composition.