Damien Dempsey
Damien Dempsey (born 1975 in Donaghmede, Dublin) is an Irish singer and son… Read Full Bio ↴Damien Dempsey (born 1975 in Donaghmede, Dublin) is an Irish singer and songwriter who mixes traditional Irish folk with contemporary lyrics to deliver social commentary on the positive and negative aspects arising from Ireland's Celtic Tiger society. He sings in English, and to a lesser extent in Irish.

Dempsey's earliest musical influences were the post-pub singsongs that his parents used to have at their home when he was a toddler. Good, bad or indifferent, everyone had to sing. Today his unique sound reflects the influence of traditional Sean-Nós as well as his musical heroes: Bob Marley and Elvis Presley.

After completing his secondary education,Dempsey went on to the Ballyfermot "Rock School" for 2 years where he studied musical performance as well as the practical side of the music industry. The school had its own small record label and star students were awarded a release on the label. Damien was chosen for that honour and the EP, "The Contender", was released in 1995.

In 1997 "Dublin Town", Dempsey's first commercial single, reached No. 18 in the Irish charts. Ireland's HOT PRESS remarked that it was "..an underground anthem for disaffected youth and closet balladeer alike". A re-recorded version of the song appeared on Dempsey's first album; "They Don't Teach This Shit In School" released in 2000.

His next release, the "Negative Vibes EP", (2002) featured Sinéad O'Connor on the title track and led to an invitation to support Sinéad on her 2002/2003 Irish, UK and European tour.

Dempsey's second album, "Seize the Day", was released May 2003 in Ireland on Clear Records via Sony and entered the charts first week of release at No. 5. It has since achieved double-platinum sales. Released in May 2004 in the UK on IRL, the album was awarded "CD of the Week" in the Sunday Times and received enthusiastic reviews in the National and music press.

Nominated in 4 categories in the 2004 Irish Meteor Awards, Dempsey walked away with two, the only 2004 double winner.

A documentary, "It's All Good: The Damien Dempsey Story" by independent filmmaker Dara McCluskey, that followed Dempsey's career progression up to the release of "Seize the Day", was broadcast on Ireland's national TV station RTE and shown at film festivals in Ireland and New York.

During 2004, Dempsey toured extensively headlining his own shows as well as supporting Bob Dylan during the Irish leg of his European tour and making his debut appearances at The Fleadh and Womad.

Dempsey has earned the passionate support of his peers, one of whom is Morrissey who invited him to support him on various UK and Irish dates as well as his autumn 2004 US tour. Morrissey went on to sign Dempsey to his Attack label, and "Seize the Day" had its U.S. release in October 2004.

His third album, "Shots", simultaneously released in Ireland and the UK in March 2005, entered the Irish album charts at Number 1 and achieved platinum status in December 2005.

In February 2006, Dempsey increased his Meteor Awards by winning in The Best Irish Male category.

Recorded in December 2005 at Dublin's Olympia Theatre and released in June 2006 in both Ireland and the UK, Dempsey's first live album, "Live at The Olympia", entered the Irish album chart at Number 10.
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Damien Dempsey Lyrics


A Child Is an Open Book We're all born without hate We're all born without hate A c…
A Rainy Night in Soho I've been loving you a long time Down all the years,…
Almighty Love The love I feel for you I know I'll never…
Apple of My Eye Flying o'r the sea, My guitar and me. Thirty thousand feet, …
Bad Time Garda Someone knocked this morning, they wanted to come in They ra…
Beside the Sea When can we go down beside the sea, beside the…
Born Without Hate From unspeakable acts of evil Beauty and good, they can spri…
Bustin Outta Here The walls seem so high; They never fail to terrify,…
Canadian Geese Down Kilbarrack road I head for the coast As the northern…
Canadian Geese (Live Version) Down Kilbarrack road I head for the coast As the northern…
Celtic Tiger Greedy, greedy, greedy, greedy, greedy So greedy, greedy, gr…
Chillin Blue sky today Let's get away Out of here Nothing to do …
Chillin' Blue sky today Let's get away Out of here Nothing to do In t…



Choctaw Nation Choctaw nation I am in your debt Choctaw nation I just…
Chris and Stevie My buddy Stevie, I loved him well We had some laugh,…
Colony I sing the song of the colony How many years and…
Cursed With A Brain Count your blessings that you have enough bread Your belly f…
Dublin Town Rollin' down to Dublin Town Comin' from the Northside, headi…
Factories Factories, Trains and Houses, Playground of my youth The pla…
Ghosts of Overdoses Hey little baby I want to take you from here Hey…
Great Gaels Of Ireland [Chorus:] Oh the great Gaels of Ireland And the great Gaels …
Happy Christmas And so this is Christmas And what have you done Another year…
Hold Me Girl I've been hurt in the past, cut up I find…
Hot Asphalt Good evening, all my jolly lads, I′m glad to find…
How Strange I've seen the light of you come bursting, blasting through Y…
I've No Alibi I've no alibi, I'm so bad I cry I've no alibi,…
Industrial School I missed a day or two of school, because I…
It My love is strong for those who are gone Those who…
It's All Good I am an angry man yeah, I vent it when…
It's Important My love is strong for those who are gone Those who…
Jar Song You look around, you say what's up You see another Irishman…
Jealousy Mess with my girl, that's what you're trying to do I…
Kilburn Stroll Take me back tonight, Into your loving arms, Into your lovi…
Maasai When I die I want to die, not in a home…
Marching Season Siege Marching down my street Right past my own church You beat yo…
Negative Vibes Lord, Won't you give me the strength to be strong,…
Not on Your Own Tonight Walkin' through the city Was as lonely as could be I'm wan…
NYC Paddy When I walk around this town, dear I do belong here Biddie…
Party On Doing E, doing speed, doing cocaine Mix it with alcohol and…
Patience Patience, give me some of that sweet patience, Lord, I will…
Schooldays Over Schoolday'sover come on thenJohn, Time to begetting your pit…
Seanchai I wander through the hills, love, with poetry in my…
Seize The Day Seize the day, hey, and look to Jah Sha la There's work…
Serious Go on, why don't you try it out? I don't know,…
Sing All Our Cares Away Mary loves the grouse, hides the bottles round the house,…
Spraypaint Backalley Down a spray paint back alley I look up at the…
St. Patrick's Day Mammy sings wonderfully Lamenting melodies Then daddy come…
Teachers Old Johnny Cash help me walk the line Old Bobby Marley…
The Apple Of My Eye Flying o'r the sea, My guitar and me. Thirty thousand feet, …
The Auld Triangle The Auld Triangle Song from his play The Quare Fellow A hung…
The Rocky Road 'Twas in the merry month of June from our home…
The Rocky Road to Dublin It was in the merry month of June, from our…
The Rocky Road To Poland 'Twas in the merry month of June from our home…
They Don't Teach This Shit In School I guess I'm just a fool But woh no babe They don't…
Your Pretty Smile Oh, your pretty smile banish any gloom And when I frown…


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