Songs with Dublin Street Names

paddylonglegs

Folks,

Doing a project about Dublin, and want to use songs with Dublin street names as the theme.

The only one I can think of are Raglan Road, thats it!

Any suggestions? I could probably also go with with Dublin themed songs like Summer in Dublin by Bagatelle.

Any help? Struggling!

Tiercel Dave

Do you want the street name in the title of the song or just mentioned in the lyrics?

More a district but 'Biddy Mulligan the pride of the Coombe' springs to mind.....

https://www.irishsongs.com/lyrics.php?Action=view&Song_id=39

AlanG

not many with street names but plenty with areas:

Dublin in the Rare old times,

Monto (which was an area named after a street)

Quare things in Dublin

old Triangle

odyssey06

David Gray has a song called Dún Laoghaire

Damien Dempsey - Dublin Town & Factories has lots of references to places in Dublin

U2 - Walk to the Water, mentions Summerhill and North Strand

U2 - They did a tribute song to David Letterman called Forty Foot man after the swimming spot.

The Marino Waltz

More suggestions here:

https://www.dublinlive.ie/whats-on/arts-culture-news/best-songs-about-dublin-ireland-10948795

Homer

Colm Wilkinson has a song called Harcourt Street

Frances Black has a song called On Grafton Street as does Bagatelle

The Maid of Cabra West by Frank Harte

Be warned it's very likely to offend you if you are Portuguese.

odyssey06

There's a Wikipedia page but they are either areas \ Dublin mentioned generally or listed here already.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_about_Dublin

yozico

Not a street name, but Liberty Belle by Fontaines DC is named after a pub the Liberties.

Tomw86

Bagatelle - Summer in Dublin mentions the Liffey, Dun Laoighaire and Grafton Street.

paddylonglegs

brilliant suggestions! Thanks a million! I think there will be some lyrics taken from them mentioning areas so doesn’t need to be just titles. Loads to work off here, really appreciate the help!

subpar

Dublin Jack Of All Trades Irish lyrics and guitar chords

A traditional song recorded by The Johnstones and The Dubliners. 

This song mentions 52 streets or places in Dublin. Other folk songs relating to

Dublin include the most famous of all the Molly Malone Song about a fish monger.

Oh[D] I am a roving sporting blade, they[A] call me Jack of all[D] Trades

I always place my chief delight in[A] courting pretty fair [D]maids.

So when in Dublin I ar[C]rived to[D] try for a situ[A]ation

I[D] always[A] heard them[D] say it[C] was the[D] pride of[A] all the[D] Nations.

cho:[D] I'm a roving jack of all trades

Of every[A] trade of all[D] trades

And if you wish to know my name

They[A] call me Jack of all[D] trades.

On George's Quay I first began and there became a porter

Me and my master soon fell out which cut my acquaintance 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 Baggot street I drove a cab and there was well requited

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.

In Golden Lane I sold old shoes: In Meath Street was a grinder

In Barrack Street I lost my wife. 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, tongs and poker.

In College Green a banker was, and in Smithfield, a drover

In Britain Street, a waiter and in George's Street, a glover

On Ormond Quay I sold old books; in King Street, a nailer

In Townsend Street, a carpenter; and in Ringsend, a sailor.

In Cole's Lane, a jobbing butcher; in Dane Street, a tailor

In Moore Street a chandler and on the Coombe, a weaver.

In Church Street, I sold old ropes- on Redmond's Hill a draper

In Mary Street, sold 'bacco pipes- in Bishop street a quaker.

In Peter Street, I was a quack: In Greek street, a grainer

On the Harbour, I did carry sacks; In Werburgh Street, a glazier.

In Mud Island, was a dairy boy, where I became a scooper

In Capel Street, a barber's clerk; In Abbey Street, a cooper.

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, 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.

elperello

Dicey Reilly

"She walks along Fitzgibbon Street with an independent air"

Mav11

Walkin street. Where Tim Finnegan lived!!

GBX

Dire Straits - Portobello Belle. Whilst not specifically Dublin, both London and Dublin have road/street names Portobello. Google tells me its an "Irish Reggae Song"

loyatemu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121227228#Comment_121227228

London surely, they're a London band.

Sr. Pirotecnic

The Lotts (Fontaines DC) is just off O'Connell St

Not a song afaik but Swim had an album called Sundrive Road.

__plec__

Probably not helpful at all, as in no street names, but Radioheads 'How to Disappear Completely' mentions the Liffey, and Mansun's 'I Can Only Disappoint You' has Dublin in the first line....upon reflection 2 very depressing titles

Choochtown

Ronnie Drew has a song called "Gardiner Street Blues" on his 1996 album "Dirty Rotten Shame"

"Drinkin' in the day" on the same album mentions Leeson Street in the 1st line.

Strumms

Pony Club - Dorset St.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAXQLljpA7Y

elperello

Dublin Saunter

"Grafton Street's a wonderland..."

Billy Mays

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121226877#Comment_121226877

It's Watling Street

(Finnegan's Wake by The Dubliners)

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121254093#Comment_121254093

https://genius.com/The-dubliners-finnegans-wake-lyrics

Just a different way of talkin 🙂

Everlong1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121228196#Comment_121228196

Beat me to it. Cracking tune. "As I make my way home on the 40C".

Everlong1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121227622#Comment_121227622

See also The Smiths "Panic" - "Panic on the streets of London, Dublin, Dundee, Humberside".

Dtoffee

The late great Guy Clark (a regular visitor to Dublin) wrote this and its constant debate as to which Dublin he sung about..... spanish steps wins it for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5XGfMrWYa0

Billy Mays

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121255557#Comment_121255557

Not being a dick here but those lyrics are wrong. Genius isn't always 100% accurate.

There is no Walkin Street in Dublin. Watling Street is in Dublin 8 and goes from Victoria Quay up to James Street

Here's the lyrics of the same song by The Clancy Brothers, also on Genius

https://genius.com/The-clancy-brothers-finnegans-wake-lyrics

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121256280#Comment_121256280

Yes I know the street.

Some say Watling, some say Walkin, more say Walken.

If you're looking for 100% I'll refer you to my lawyer 🙂

In the meantime enjoy the music.

Charles Babbage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkn0syMCGyQ

Eleanor McEvoy sang South Anne Street

paddylonglegs

Had no idea the amount of songs on this subject. Cheers for the suggestions

Mav11

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121254093#Comment_121254093

Yeah, I was wondering about that.

I also thought it was Watling St., but if you look up the lyrics it says Walkin' or Walking St?

Lyrics

Tim Finnegan lived in Walkin Street

A gentle Irishman, mighty odd

He'd a beautiful brogue so rich and sweet

And to rise in the world he carried a hod… Full lyrics

Source: LyricFind

magicbastarder

does it need to be explicit mentions of street names?

'running to stand still' by U2 clearly references ballymun, but does not name it - 'i see seven towers, but i only see one way out'.

Zico

Take me up to Monto, monto, monto

Mav11

Watling Street is referenced twice in the novel:

"Portobello, Equadocta, Therecocta,Percorello; he pours into the softclad shellborn the hard cash earned in Watling Street; his birth proved accidental shows is death its grave mistake"

No mention of the other permutations!

tibruit

"Up"....from that gem of a movie that is "Sing Street".

"Up to the stars she shows me,

Dame Street, George`s Street miles below me,

Up where the world won`t let us down."

dasdog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZL3XCIsjBQ

Sunken Foal- Grafton Street

magicbastarder

was this mentioned?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4asSbKhqAGM

magicbastarder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGNxz7zeU10

...

magicbastarder

also, 'under clery's clock' by the radiators; burgh quay is mentioned.

dasdog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i5RHFxtJ4g

More so a pub than a street

Hodors Appletart

Daffodil Mulligan mentions Francis Street by name, and The Coombe

Lankum had a good version on their first album

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=QhFstzYP6ok

Imhof Tank

Fun thread.

Few more

The Five Lamps boys were comin on strong - Rat Trap

In Stoneybatter and Patrick's Close, up and aound the Glouster Diamond and down by Napper Tandy's house - The Spanish Lady

And a real favourite - Of "Grafton Street and Durby Square", and those of whom I care, and you, in Dublin - Thin Lizzy

Billy Mays

Another one from The Dubliners. Two streets mentioned in this one, Clarendon Street and Eden Quay

https://youtu.be/yYKIEcXC0Y0?si=3L87OiF150bx3EoU

Skipping rope still turning, children at their play

In and out of Clarendon Street, in and out to pray

Me uncle had a wolfhound that never had to pee

'til Hairy Lemon snatched it down on Eden Quay

CrowdedHouse

The Dying Rebel

The night was dark and the fight was over

The moon shone down O’Connell Street

I stood alone where brave men perished

Those men have gone their God to meet

My only son was shot in Dublin

Fighting for his country bold

He fought for Ireland and Ireland only

The Harp and Shamrock, Green, White and Gold

Dank Janniels

Eustace Street by Delorentos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyjt1R9GRG4

gaiscioch

Not sure if there are any streets mentioned it it, but The Night Before Larry was Stretched (Elvis Costello and many others did versions of it) was written in Dublin slang back in the 18th century. The architect and famous song collector Frank Harte (1933 - 2005) had an album named Dublin Street Songs (1967), more of which can be found here: https://www.topicrecords.co.uk/2015/05/frank-harte-dublin-street-songs-tsdl172/

Also, Colm Ó Lochlainn's two famous books on Irish street ballads, Irish Street Ballads (1939) and More Irish Street Ballads (1965), would be a great resource to find. Here's a list of the songs mentioned in the former: https://www.ibiblio.org/keefer/op01.htm#Oloccol

UCD has now digitalised a lot of the sources Ó Lochlainn's work was based upon and they can be read here: https://digital.ucd.ie/view/ivrla:6022

The Mudcat Café.org website is a fantastic source for everybody who is interested in traditional songs, their origins, meanings and versions. You can ask questions on it about this sort of thing and there's usually plenty of people knowledgable enough to answer.

Lastly, An Góilín Traditional Singers' Club meets every Friday evening in Club na Múinteoirí on Parnell Square and there will always be Dublin songs performed there, with a few notable singers who focus on that genre and would be very helpful for this topic.

https://goilin.com/

Charles Babbage

When Joxer went to Stuttgart, according to Christy Moore, "In Germany the autobahn, 'twas like the Long Mile Road"

elperello

"Up went Nelson in old Dublin

All along O'Connell Street the stones and rubble flew...."

https://www.irish-folk-songs.com/up-went-nelson-lyrics-and-chords.html