Songs that mention Dublin

Exit

The song has to actually mention a part of Dublin by name (so no "I see seven towers") and it'd be nice to provide the quote.

I'll start off with three.

Radiohead - How To Disappear Completely

That there
That's not me
I go
Where I please
I walk through walls
I float down the Liffey

U2 - Walk To The Water

She took the back way home
Past the lights at Summerhill
Turn left on to the north strand
And on, on towards the sea

The above also mentions The Royal Hotel. Where is/was that?

U2 - A Celebration

I believe in the bells of Christchurch
Ringing for this land
I believe in the cells of Mount Joy
Does an honest man?

carolmon

Bagatelle - Summer in Dublin

Iremember that summer in Dublin,
And the Liffey as it stank like hell,
And young people walking down Grafton Street,
Everyone looking so well.

Xavi6

'Panic' by The Smiths references the city itself -

But there's Panic on the streets of Carlisle
Dublin, Dundee, Humberside
I wonder to myself

jdivision

Mundy - To you I bestow
And we'll roll in the Foggy Dew

Spiral - well he mentions Finglas in that piece of crap single he released anyway:)!!

IanCurtis

"Dublin Town" by Damien Dempsey, obviously enough*

Rollin' down to Dublin Town
Comin' from the Northside, headin' Southbound
The glare of the city, you can see it in the sky
See it in the faces when I'm passing them by

Dublin Town
Bright lights all around
All the different sounds
Concrete surrounds
You need a few pounds or there's nothing to do
No muns, no fun in the foggy dew
I be signing on, off Gardiner street ...

Gavin "shels"

Molly Malone:

In Dublins fair city, where the girls are so pretty...

Wishbone Ash

Exit wrote: »

The above also mentions The Royal Hotel. Where is/was that?

Possibly refers to the Royal Dublin Hotel on Upper O'Connell Street.


Dublin Can Be Heaven (Noel Purcell?)

I've been North and I've been South
I've been East and West
I've been just a rolling stone
Yet there's one place on this earth
I've always liked the best
Just a little town I call my own

For Dublin can be heaven
With coffee at eleven
And a stroll in Stephen's Green
There's no need to hurry
There's no need to worry
You're a king and the lady's a queen
Grafton Street's a wonderland
There's magic in the air
There's diamonds in the lady's eyes
And gold-dust in her hair
And if you don't believe me
Come and meet me there
In Dublin on a sunny Summer morning

I've been here and I've been there
I've sought the rainbow's end
But no crock of gold I've found
Now I know that come what will
Whatever fate may send
Here my roots are deep in friendly ground

For Dublin can be heaven
With coffee at eleven
And a stroll in Stephen's green
There's no need to hurry
There's no need to worry
You're the king and the lady's a queen
Grafton Street's a wonderland
There's magic in the air
There's diamonds in the lady's eyes
And gold-dust in her hair
And if you don't believe me
Come and meet me there
In Dublin on a sunny Summer morning
And if you don't believe me
Come and meet me there
In Dublin on a sunny Summer morning

Latchy

Dublin town -various artist

'' fly me home sweet wings of morning , fly me home were my soul is ment to be, in my heart i hear you calling , in my mind it's my Dublin town i see ''

Nolanger

Prefab Sprout.

Wishbone Ash

I thought this thread was about songs that mention places in Dublin - not Dublin itself!

Latchy

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I thought this thread was about songs that mention places in Dublin - not Dublin itself!

Correct

Exit

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Possibly refers to the Royal Dublin Hotel on Upper O'Connell Street.

Well, the actual line is

A room in the Royal hotel
With sea facing views

so presumably it wouldn't be that one.

shane86

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I thought this thread was about songs that mention places in Dublin - not Dublin itself!

The title and the OP make it a bit ambigious tbh

If we go by title, cant believe nobody mentioned

Mark McCabe wrote:

right here on tha Dublin danceflooorrah......

Easily the best song ever mentioning the town


Mentioned in that Jay Z tune Im a Hustler/Give it to Me (not sure which is the correct title!) a few years back and all. line goes somethin like "all kinda girls from all round the world.....somethin somethin.....bubblin in Dublin"


Im sure House of Pain must have mentioned at some point too, but tbh Jay Z likely has more Irish blood in him than the HOP.

Exit

shane86 wrote: »

The title and the OP make it a bit ambigious tbh

Yeah, I just meant any mention of Dublin really, as long as it actually named the place rather than vaguely referring to it. Bad writing on my part.

Wishbone Ash

Exit wrote: »

Well, the actual line is



so presumably it wouldn't be that one.

Is there a hotel with that name out the Dun Laoghaire direction?

Gaspode

The Ferryman:
Where the strawberry beds
Sweep down to the Liffey
You'll kiss away the worries from my brow
I love you well today
And I'll love you more tomorrow
If you ever loved me Molly love me now

Wishbone Ash

I'm surprised this one hasn't been mentioned yet!

Dublin in the rare ould times - Pete St John

Raised on songs and stories, heroes of renown
Out passing tales and glories that once was Dublin Town
The hallowed halls and houses, the haunting childrens rhymes
That once was part of Dublin in the rare ould times

Ringle ringle rosey, as the light declines
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

Well, my name it is Sean Dempsey, as Dublin as can be
Born hard and late in Pimlico, in a house that ceased to be
By trade I was a cooper, lost out to redundancy
Like my house that fell to progress, my trade's a memory

Well I courted Peggy Dignam, as pretty as you please
A rogue and child of Mary, from the rebel Liberties
I lost her to a student chap, with skin as black as coal
When he took her off to Birmingham, well she took away my soul

Ringle ringle rosey, as the light declines
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

The years have made me bitter, the gargle dims me brain
Cause Dublin keeps on changing, and nothing seems the same
The Pillar and the Met have gone, the Royal long since pulled down
As the grey unyielding concrete, makes a city of my town

Ringle ringle rosey, as the light declines
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

Fare thee well sweet Anna Liffey, I can no longer stay
And watch the new glass cages, that spring up along the quai
My mind's too full of memories, too old to hear new chimes
I'm a part of what was Dublin, in the rare ould times

Ringle ringle rosey, as the light declines
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

Ringle ringle rosey, as the light declines
I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

I remember Dublin City in the rare ould times

Exit

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Is there a hotel with that name out the Dun Laoghaire direction?

A quick google tells me there's the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire and the Royal Hotel in Bray. I suppose it could be either of those.

I had "In The Rare Auld Times" ready to post if nobody else did.

Wishbone Ash

COURTING IN THE KITCHEN

Come single belle and beau, unto me pay attention
Don't ever fall in love, it's the divil's own invention
For once in love I fell, with a maiden's smile bewitching
Miss Henrietta Bell, down in Captain Kelly's kitchen

CHORUS:
Tooral ooral ooral ooral a, tooral ooral addy
Tooral ooral ooral ooral a, tooral ooral addy

At the age of seventeen I was 'prenticed to a grocer
Not far from Stephen's Green where Miss Henry used to go sir
Her manners were sublime, she set me heart a twitchin'
And she invited me to a hooley in the kitchen
Chorus

Next Sunday being the day, we were to have the flare up
I dressed myself quite gay, and I frizzed and oiled my hair up
The captain had no wife, and he had gone out fishing
So we kicked up high life, below-stairs in the kitchen
Chorus

Just as the clock struck six, we sat down to the table
She handed tea and cake and I ate while I was able.
I drank hot punch and tea, till me sides had got a stitch in
And time passed quick away with the courtin' in the kitchen
Chorus

With me arms around her waist, she slyly hinted marriage
To the door in dreadful haste come Captain Kelly's carriage
Her eyes soon filled with hate, and they were not bewitching
She wished that I would get to hell, or somehere from the kitchen
Chorus

When the captain came down the stairs, he saw my situation
In spite of all my prayers, I was marched off to the station
For me they'd take no bail, to get home I was itchin'
But I had to tell the tale, how I came into the kitchen
Chorus

I said she did invite me, she gave a flat denial
For assault she did indict me, and I was sent for trial
She swore I robbed the house, in spite of all her screetchin'
And I got six months hard for me courtin' in the kitchen

Wishbone Ash

"Take me up to Monto"

(Monto = Montgomery Street which is now Foley Street. )

Wishbone Ash

The Ould Triangle

A hungry feeling, it came o er me stealing
And the mice they were squealing in my prison cell
And the ould triangle, went jingle jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal.

To begin the morning, the screw was bawling
Get up you bowsies and clean out your cell
And the ould triangle, went jingle jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal.

Wishbone Ash

Raglan Road

On Raglan Road on an autumn day,
I saw her first and knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare
That I may one day rue.
I saw the danger, yet I walked
Along the enchanted way
And I said let grief be a falling leaf
At the dawning of the day.

On Grafton Street in november,
We tripped lightly along the ledge
Of a deep ravine where can be seen
The worst of passions pledged.
The queen of hearts still baking tarts
And I not making hay,
Well I loved too much; by such and such
Is happiness thrown away.

I gave her the gifts of the mind.
I gave her the secret sign
Thats known to all the artists who have
Known true gods of sound and time.
With word and tint I did not stint.
I gave her reams of poems to say
With her own dark hair and her own name there
Like the clouds over fields of may.

On a quiet street where old ghosts meet,
I see her walking now away from me,
So hurriedly. my reason must allow,
For I have wooed, not as I should
A creature made of clay.
When the angel woos the clay, hell lose
His wings at the dawn of the day.

WindSock

Rocky road to Dub-a-lin, 1 2 3 4 5

In the merry month of June from me home I started,
Left the girls of Tuam so sad and 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, leave where I was born,
Cut a stout black thorn to banish ghosts and goblins;
Bought a pair of brogues rattling o'er the bogs
And fright'ning 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 way to Dublin, Whack follol de rah !

In Mullingar that night I rested limbs so weary, Started by daylight
next morning blithe and early, Took a drop of pure to keep me heartfrom sinking;
Thats a Paddy's cure whenever he's on drinking. See the lassies smile, laughing
all the while At me curious style, 'twould set your heart a bubblin'
Asked me was I hired, wages I required, I was almost tired of the
rocky road to Dublin.
One, two, three four, five, Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky
road and all the way to Dublin, Whack follol de rah !

In Dublin next arrived, I thought it be a pity
To be soon deprived a view of that fine city.
So then I took a stroll, all among the quality;
Me bundle it was stole, all in a neat locality.
Something crossed me mind, when I looked behind,
No bundle could I find upon me stick a wobblin'
Enquiring for the rogue, they said me Connaught brogue
Wasn't much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin.
One, two, three four, five, Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky
road and all the way to Dublin, Whack follol de rah !

From there I got away, me spirits never falling,
Landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailing.
The Captain at me roared, said that no room had he;
When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy.
Down among the pigs, played some hearty rigs,
Danced some hearty jigs, the water round me bubbling;
When off Holyhead wished meself was dead,
Or better for instead on the rocky road to Dublin.
One, two, three four, five, Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky
road and all the way to Dublin, Whack follol de rah !

Well the bouys 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.
Some Galway boys were nigh and saw I was a hobble in,
With a load "hurray !" joined in the affray.
We quitely cleared the way for the rocky road to Dublin.
One, two, three four, five, Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky
road and all the way to Dublin, Whack fol all the Ra !

jdivision

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

"Take me up to Monto"

(Monto = Montgomery Street which is now Foley Street. )

I thought it was more than just the street and used to describe the whole area? Anyway, it was Dublin's red light district at one stage - largest in Europe I believe at the time

stovelid

Says my aul' wan to your aul' wan
"Will ye go to the Galway races?"
Says your aul' wan to my aul' wan,
"With the price of my aul' lad's braces"
I went down to Capel Street
To the Jewish moneylenders
But they wouldn't give me a couple of bob on
My aul' wan’s lad's suspenders.

- Waxie's Dargle

Also:

Does 'Under Clery's Clock' count?

carolmon

Clancy brothers - Biddie Mulligan the pride of the Coombe

You may travel from Clare to the county Kildare
From Francis Street back to the Coombe;
But where would you see a fine widow like me?
Biddy Mulligan the pride of the Coombe, me boys,
Biddy Mulligan the pride of the Coombe.
I'm a buxom fine widow, I live in a spot
In Dublin, they call it the Coombe.
Me shops and me stalls are laid out on the street,
And me palace consists of one room.
I sell apples and oranges, nuts and sweet peas,
Bananas and sugar stick sweet.
On a Saturday night I sell second-hand clothes,
From the floor of me stall in the street.
cho:
I sell fish on a Friday, spread out on a board;
The finest you'll find in the sea.
[ Find more Lyrics at www.mp3lyrics.org/Dx5 ]
But the best is my herrings,
fine Dublin Bay herrings,
There's herrings for dinner and tea.
I have a son, Mick, he's great on the flute,
He plays in the Longford Street band;
It would do your heart good for
to see him march out
On a Sunday for Dollymount Strand.
cho:
In the park, on a Sunday, I make quite a dash;
The neighbors look on in surprise.
With my Aberdeen shawlie thrown over my head,
I dazzle the sight of their eyes.
At Patrick Street corner, for sixty-four years,
I've stood, and no one can deny
That while I stood there, nobody could dare
To say black was the white of my eye.
cho:

carolmon

The Sally Gardens



It was down by the Sally Gardens, my love and I did meet.
She crossed the Sally Gardens with little snow-white feet.
She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree,
But I was young and foolish, and with her did not agree

irlirishkev

Right.
Quite a rare song this, but it's great. The only recording I have of it, is by my dad's old folk group from years past..
I'm not going to bother highlighting the Dublin references, it's pretty obvious! -


Dublin Jack Of All Trades
(Words trad / tune English air)

I'm a roving Jack of many a trade
Of every trade, of all trades
And if you wish to know my name
They call me Jack of all trades

I am a roving sporting blade, they call me Jack of all trades
I always found my chief delight in courting pretty fair maids
For when in Dublin I arrived to try for a situation
I always heard them say it was the pride of all the nation

In Baggot Street I drove a cab and there was well required
In Francis Street had lodging beds to entertain all strangers
For Dublin is of high renown, or I am much mistaken
In Kevin Street I do declare sold butter eggs and bacon

On George's Quay I first began, I there became a porter
Me and my master soon fell out which cut my 'quaintance shorter
In Sackville Street a pastry cook, in James' Street a baker
In Cook Street I did coffins make, in Eustace Street a preacher

In Golden Lane I sold old shoes, in Meath Street was a grinder
In Barrack Street I lost my wife, and I'm glad I ne'er could find her
In Mary's Lane I've dyed old clothes of which I've often boasted
In that noted place Exchequer Street sold mutton ready roasted

In Temple Bar I dressed old hats, in Thomas Street a sawyer
In Pill Lane I sold the plate, in Green Street an honest lawyer
In Plunkett Street I sold cast clothes, in Bride's Alley a broker
In Charles Street I had a shop, sold shovel, thongs and poker

In Liffey Street had furniture, with fleas and bugs I sold it
And at the bank, a big placard, I often stood to hold it
In New Street I sold hay and straw and in Spitalfields made bacon
In Fishamble Street was at the grand old trade of basketmaking

In Summerhill a coachmaker, in Denzille Street a gilder
In Cork Street was a tanner and in Brunswick Street a builder
In High Street I sold hosiery, in Patrick Street sold all blades
So if you wish to know my name, they call me Jack of all trades

Exit

That one pretty much wins for references. If you can somehow upload that, it'd be great.

irlirishkev

Exit wrote: »

That one pretty much wins for references. If you can somehow upload that, it'd be great.

I won't upload it, but I'll happily email it upon request!

Dord

I can't find the lyrics to it anywhere but;

The Mahones - Drunken Night in Dublin

The only mention really is the line "Drunken night in Dublin ended up in Galway Bay", it's repeated a few times throughout. If I think of any better ones I'll post them.