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)
The Fighting 69th
Dropkick Murphys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come all you gallant heroes
Along with me combined
I'll sing a song, it won't take long
Of the fighting sixty-ninth
They're a band of men brave, stout and bold
And they have a leader to the fold
And Corcoran was his name
It was in the month of April
When the boys, they sailed away
And they made a sight so glorious
As they marched along Broadway
They marched right down Broadway, me boys
Until they reached the shore
And from there they went to Washington
And straight unto the war
So we gave them a hearty cheer, me boys
It was greeted with a smile
Singing here's to the boys who feared no noise
We're the fighting sixty ninth
And when the war is said and done
May heaven spare our lives
For it's only then we can return
To our loved ones and our wives
We'll take them in our arms, me boys
For a long night and a day
And we'll hope that war will come no more
To sweet America
So we gave them a hearty cheer, me boys
It was greeted with a smile
Singing here's to the boys who feared no noise
We're the fighting sixty ninth
So farewell unto you dear New York
Will I e'er see you once more
For it fills my heart with sorrow
To leave your sylvan shore
But the country now it is calling us
And we must hasten fore
So here's to the stars and stripes, me boys
And to Ireland's lovely shore
And here's to Murphy and divine
Of honor and renown
Who did escort our heroes
Unto the battle ground
And said unto our colonel
We must fight hand to hand
Until we plant the stars and stripes
Way down in Dixieland
So we gave them a hearty cheer, me boys
It was greeted with a smile
Singing here's to the boys who feared no noise
We're the fighting sixty ninth
So we gave them a hearty cheer, me boys
It was greeted with a smile
Singing here's to the boys who feared no noise
We're the fighting sixty ninth
The Dropkick Murphys' song "The Fighting 69th" is a tribute to a regiment of soldiers who fought on the Union side during the American Civil War. The song tells the story of the 69th Regiment of the New York State Militia, which was made up of Irish immigrants who had recently arrived in America. The regiment was led by Colonel Michael Corcoran, who was himself of Irish descent. The song recounts their journey from New York to Washington and their experiences during the war.
The lyrics describe the regiment as "a band of men brave, stout, and bold" who fearlessly marched down Broadway in New York City on their way to the battlefront. The song also pays tribute to the regiment's leaders, including Colonels Corcoran and Murphy, who were instrumental in organizing and leading the "Fighting 69th."
The chorus of the song is repeated throughout, emphasizing the regiment's courage and fighting spirit. The lyrics are emotive and stirring, conveying a sense of pride and respect for the brave men who fought and died during the Civil War.
Line by Line Meaning
Come all you gallant heroes
Calling all brave individuals
Along with me combined
Join me in my cause
I'll sing a song, it won't take long
I have a short tale to tell
Of the fighting sixty-ninth
About the brave soldiers of the 69th infantry
They're a band of men brave, stout and bold
These soldiers are courageous and strong
From Ireland they came
They originated from Ireland
And they have a leader to the fold
Their leader's name is Corcoran
And Corcoran was his name
That is the name of their leader
It was in the month of April
The events I'm describing took place in April
When the boys, they sailed away
When the soldiers departed by ship
And they made a sight so glorious
Their departure was an impressive spectacle
As they marched along Broadway
They paraded down Broadway in a display of bravery
They marched right down Broadway, me boys
They proudly walked down Broadway
Until they reached the shore
They continued until they arrived at the shore
And from there they went to Washington
They journeyed to Washington, DC
And straight unto the war
They went straight into battle
So we gave them a hearty cheer, me boys
We applauded them wholeheartedly
It was greeted with a smile
They were pleased by our positive reaction
Singing here's to the boys who feared no noise
We praise those who did not shy away from battle
We're the fighting sixty ninth
We are the brave soldiers of the 69th infantry
And when the war is said and done
After the war is over
May heaven spare our lives
May we survive the battle
For it's only then we can return
Only then can we go home
To our loved ones and our wives
To our families and spouses
We'll take them in our arms, me boys
We will embrace them with joy
For a long night and a day
For an extended period of time
And we'll hope that war will come no more
We will pray that there will be no more war
To sweet America
For the sake of our country
So farewell unto you dear New York
Goodbye to the city of New York
Will I e'er see you once more
Will I ever see you again
For it fills my heart with sorrow
It saddens me deeply
To leave your sylvan shore
To depart from your lovely landscape
But the country now it is calling us
Our country needs us
And we must hasten fore
We must hurry to action
So here's to the stars and stripes, me boys
Cheers to the American flag
And to Ireland's lovely shore
And to the beautiful land of Ireland
And here's to Murphy and divine
Salute to Murphy and divine
Of honor and renown
For their bravery and fame
Who did escort our heroes
Who accompanied our soldiers
Unto the battle ground
To the site of the war
And said unto our colonel
And spoke to our leader
We must fight hand to hand
We must fight face to face
Until we plant the stars and stripes
Until the American flag is raised
Way down in Dixieland
In the southern United States
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ken Casey, Matthew Edward Kelly, Rick Barton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Harding
Best version of the song!
Jack
This is the best bar fight music
Oliverbush Oli
Yup
John Fal
Losers and degenerates get into bar fights. Don't emulate fools.
Joseph Buckley
@John Fal And men often win' em. Don't stereotype.
clement wolf
@John Fal i once solved one so politely , he called his wive at 2 am that he found a leprechaun .
alitlweird
😂🤣😂
Alexis Del Angel
esta genial saludos de mexico
Patrick Murphy
This gets me so fired up!
wabblum99
man i first started to listen to dropkick murphys today and i keep on saying to myself "just one more song and ill go down to me girlfriends just one more song" but fuck it she can wait....