The band put out a series of EPs and was signed by Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong's label Hellcat Records. In 1998, the Dropkick Murphys released their first full-length album, Do Or Die. Lead singer Mike McColgan, who left the band later that year, was replaced by The Bruisers lead singer Al Barr. In 1999, they released their followup album, The Gang's All Here. In 2001, they released their third album, Sing Loud, Sing Proud. The album showcased the group’s developing sound and included collaborations with The Pogues' frontman Shane MacGowan and Cock Sparrer's Colin McFaull. It also marked a significant lineup change for the band. Original guitarist Rick Barton was replaced by former The Ducky Boys' guitarists James Lynch and Marc Orrell; instruments were added and played by new members Ryan Foltz and Spicy McHaggis.
The Dropkick Murphys' next album, Blackout, was released in 2003. The new album included the radio hit "Walk Away," as well as the songs "Fields of Athenry" and "The Dirty Glass." The latter features female vocals by Stephanie Dougherty (Deadly Sins). Around the same time, the band released a re-working of the Boston Red Sox anthem "Tessie," which then became the official song of the team's 2004 World Series run. "Tessie" was also used throughout the major motion picture Fever Pitch and was included on the EA Sports MVP Baseball 2005 soundtrack. In 2005, the Dropkick Murphys released Singles Collection Volume 2, featuring covers, B-sides, and other material that didn't make it onto previous albums, and the band contributed a recording of "We Got the Power" to Rock Against Bush, Volume 2.
The Dropkick Murphys' fifth studio album, The Warrior's Code, was released on June 21, 2005. It features the singles "Sunshine Highway," "The Walking Dead," "The Warrior's Code," as well as the bonus track "Tessie." It also includes a song that was inspired by a Woody Guthrie poem, which the group named "I'm Shipping Up to Boston." The song was featured in Martin Scorsese's 2006 film The Departed. Scorsese mentioned the band in an interview after winning his first Oscar.
The Dropkick Murphys released their sixth studio album, The Meanest of Times, on September 18, 2007. It was their first release not on the Hellcat Records label but instead on the label Born & Bred.
In early 2008, Marc Orrell left the band. Thereupon Tim Brennan, who had been playing mandolin, accordion, banjo, tin whistle, and guitar for the band since 2004, replaced Orrell on lead guitar. Tim's previous musical duties were taken over by Jeff DaRosa, former member of The Vigilante and Pinkerton Thugs.
In September of 2022, This Machine Still Kills Fascists was released. It's an acoustic album with unused words and lyrics written by Woody Guthrie, selected and given to the band to use by Guthrie's daughter Nora. It did not feature Al Barr, who was on hiatus for family matters.
The band will release their twelfth album, Okemah Rising, on May 12, 2023. The album was recorded during the same sessions for This Machine Still Kills Facists and like that album will feature songs using the unused lyrics by Woody Guthrie. The album was preceded by the singles "I Know How it Feels" on March 1, 2023, and "Gotta Get to Peekskill" (featuring Violent Femmes) on March 30, 2023.
Studio albums
Do or Die (1998)
The Gang's All Here (1999)
Sing Loud, Sing Proud! (2001)
Blackout (2003)
The Warrior's Code (2005)
The Meanest of Times (2007)
Going Out in Style (2011)
Signed and Sealed in Blood (2013)
11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory (2017)
Turn Up That Dial (2021)
This Machine Still Kills Fascists (2022)
Okemah Rising (2023)
Captain Kelly's Kitchen
Dropkick Murphys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come single guy and gal unto me pay attention
Don't ever fall in love
It's the devil's own invention
For once he fell in love with a maiden so bewitching
Miss Henrietta Bell down in Captain Kelly's kitchen
With me toora loora la, me toora loora laddie
Me toora loora la and me toora loora laddie
At the age of seventeen I apprenticed to a grocer
Not far from Stephen's Green
Where Miss Henri' used to go sir
Her manners were sublime she set my heart a-twitchin'
When she invited me to a party in the kitchen
CHORUS:
With me toora loora la, me toora loora laddie
Me toora loora la and me toora loora laddie
Sunday was the day that they were to have their flare-up
He dressed himself quite gay
I frizzed and oiled my hair up
The Captain had no wife and he had gone a-fishin'
She groped me on the stairs beneath the old man's kitchen
CHORUS:
With me toora loora la, me toora loora laddie
Me toora loora la and me toora loora laddie
Her arms around my waist she slyly hinted marriage
When to the door in haste came Captain Kelly's carriage
Her eyes were full of hate and poison she was spittin'
The Captain kicked the door in and stormed into the kitchen
CHORUS:
With me toora loora la, me toora loora laddie
Me toora loora la and me toora loora laddie
When the Captain came downstairs he saw my situation
In spite of all his prayers he was marched off to the station
For him they'd take no bail
To get home I was itchin'
He had to tell the tale how I came into the kitchen
CHORUS:
With me toora loora la, me toora loora laddie
Me toora loora la and me toora loora laddie
I said she did invite me
But she gave flat denial
For assault she did indict me and I was sent for trial
She swore he'd robbed her house
In spite of all her screechin'
I got six months hard
For his courtin' in the kitchen
CHORUS:
With me toora loora la, me toora loora laddie
Me toora loora la and me toora loora laddie
"Captain Kelly's Kitchen" is a traditional Irish tune rewritten by the Dropkick Murphys, and tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a girl named Miss Henrietta Bell who works in Captain Kelly's kitchen. The song begins with the singer warning single men and women never to fall in love because it is the devil's own invention. He then reminisces about how he fell in love with Miss Henrietta Bell, who was a beautiful and alluring young woman. The two connected at a party in the kitchen and the singer was immediately smitten.
As the verse's progress, the singer reveals that Miss Bell was actually engaged to Captain Kelly, a man with seemingly loose morals. The two continued their courtship in secret, but things took a turn for the worst when the Captain found out about their affair. The Captain busts into the kitchen and a fight begins that leads to the singer being sent to jail for six months, all for the crime of trying to court a woman in Captain Kelly's kitchen.
The song is a classic example of traditional Irish storytelling, with an emphasis on love, betrayal, and the consequences of one's actions. It portrays the complexities of love and the social norms that govern courtship in Ireland. The catchy chorus and upbeat melody make the song both entertaining and reflective.
Line by Line Meaning
Come single guy and gal unto me pay attention
Listen up, all the single people out there
Don't ever fall in love
Love is dangerous, better to avoid it
It's the devil's own invention
Love is like the devil, tempting and destructive
For once he fell in love with a maiden so bewitching
But once our narrator fell in love with a mesmerizing woman
Miss Henrietta Bell down in Captain Kelly's kitchen
Her name was Henrietta Bell and she worked in Captain Kelly's kitchen
With me toora loora la, me toora loora laddie
Refrain of the song
At the age of seventeen I apprenticed to a grocer
Our narrator was apprenticed to a grocer at 17
Not far from Stephen's Green
The grocer's shop was close to Stephen's Green in Dublin, Ireland
Where Miss Henri' used to go sir
Henrietta Bell was a regular customer at the grocer's shop
Her manners were sublime she set my heart a-twitchin'
Henrietta had charming manners that made our narrator's heart flutter
When she invited me to a party in the kitchen
She invited him to a party in the kitchen of Captain Kelly's house
With me toora loora la, me toora loora laddie
Refrain of the song
Sunday was the day that they were to have their flare-up
The day of the party was a Sunday
He dressed himself quite gay
Our narrator put on his best clothes
I frizzed and oiled my hair up
He took extra care with his grooming
The Captain had no wife and he had gone a-fishin'
Captain Kelly was unmarried and out fishing that day
She groped me on the stairs beneath the old man's kitchen
Henrietta made a move on him as they went down the stairs
With me toora loora la, me toora loora laddie
Refrain of the song
Her arms around my waist she slyly hinted marriage
Henrietta suggested that they get married
When to the door in haste came Captain Kelly's carriage
Suddenly, Captain Kelly arrived home in his carriage
Her eyes were full of hate and poison she was spittin'
Henrietta was now angry and spewing venom
The Captain kicked the door in and stormed into the kitchen
Captain Kelly burst into the kitchen in a rage
With me toora loora la, me toora loora laddie
Refrain of the song
When the Captain came downstairs he saw my situation
Captain Kelly saw what was going on when he came down the stairs
In spite of all his prayers he was marched off to the station
Despite Captain Kelly's pleas, he was arrested and taken away
For him they'd take no bail
He was not given the option of bail
To get home I was itchin'
Our narrator was eager to leave
He had to tell the tale how I came into the kitchen
Captain Kelly had to explain how our narrator got into the kitchen
With me toora loora la, me toora loora laddie
Refrain of the song
I said she did invite me
Our narrator claimed that Henrietta had invited him
But she gave flat denial
But Henrietta denied it completely
For assault she did indict me and I was sent for trial
Henrietta accused him of assault and he was sent to trial
She swore he'd robbed her house
Henrietta also accused him of robbery
In spite of all her screechin'
Despite her yelling and accusations
I got six months hard
Our narrator was sentenced to six months of hard labor
For his courtin' in the kitchen
All because he fell in love with Henrietta in Captain Kelly's kitchen
With me toora loora la, me toora loora laddie
Refrain of the song
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BARR, BRENNAN, CASEY, KELLY, LYNCH, ORRELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@scarydrummr93
"don't ever fall in love IT'S THE DEVIL'S OWN INVENTION!!!!" so true. so very very true
@BlackenedGold
I have Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Cornish, British in me but I am 100% mongrel and loving every second of it!
@rohontsiawaks
I dont care what anyone says I hope these guys keep on rocking from dusk till dawn. GIVER
@themzbonez14
I wanna be piss drunk on Guinness singing this song with some mates
@lugaidhwelsh6159
Long life to Irland!
Gallaguer es good, but some mexicans bears are to much better.
Like XX Lager.
@Boss351Mustang
This is the greatest song ever sung!!!! KEEP ON ROCKING!!!!!!
@cybernurgle6413
Just some good ol boys from Quincy singing about their heritage. Love the Dropkicks.
@qldtaipan3818
love dropkick murphy Celtic punk all the way baby 🍀🍀🍀🍀Celtic pride . Australian born Celtic and proud of it
@53slowmo
The whole CD named "The Warrior’s Code" is a masterpiece! Great!
@ty3700
Don´t ever fall in Love, it´s the Devils own invention! Fuck yeah!!! xD