Fiddler’s Green is a German band from Erlangen that plays independent Irish… Read Full Bio ↴Fiddler’s Green is a German band from Erlangen that plays independent Irish speedfolk, formed in 1990. Their first concert under the name of Fiddler’s Green was at the Newcomer-Festival in Erlangen in November 1990, where the band came second. The first album, entitled "Fiddler’s Green", was released in 1992, and was a mixture of live and studio tracks and of traditional and self-written songs. It was released on their own label, Deaf Shepherd Recordings. The band has been signed to a major label, but chose to go back to being independent.

The band has kept up the mix of traditional Irish or Scottish songs and self-written tracks, though the self-written tracks have progressively become less and less folky. The band's influences are wide and varied, but obviously heavily influenced by Celtic rock bands like the Pogues, the Waterboys and Great Big Sea. Recent albums also see a clear influence from Gothic rock music. Having enjoyed growing success in and around Germany, the band reached 1000 played concerts in 2004 (the only band member to play them all is bass player Rainer Schulz), which was celebrated with a concert at Castle Hoheneck. This concert was filmed and released on two DVDs: Celebrate! and Jubilate! The concert saw participation from former band members and other guest musicians. Main lyric and music writer Peter Pathos has left the band in summer 2006 and was replaced by Patrick 'Pat' Prziwara. A live DVD Folk's not dead was released to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary in 2010

Members:
Ralf 'Albi' Albers - Vocals, Guitar, Bouzouki
Tobi Heindl (Tobias Anton Heindl) - Violin, Vocals (since 2000)
Rainer Schulz - Bass
Stefan Klug - Accordion, bodhrán (since 1991)
Frank Jooss - Drums, percussion (since 2001)
Patrick 'Pat' Prziwara - Guitar, vocals (since 2006)

Former members:
Dr. Robert Oppel (1990 - 1991) - Violin
Eric Obst (1990 - 1995) - Drums
Wolfram Kellner (1995 - 2000) -Drums
Tobias Rempe (1991 - 1995) - Violin
Tobias Schäfer (1995 - 2000) - Violin
Peter Pathos (Peter Müller) (1990 - 2006) - Guitar, whistle, mandola

Discography:
Fiddler’s Green (1992)
Black Sheep (1993)
King Shepherd (1995)
Make Up Your Mind (1996)
On and On (1997)
Spin Around (1998)
Stagebox (1999) (Live)
Another Sky (2000)
Folk Raider (2002)
Nu Folk (2003)
Celebrate! (2005) (Live)
Celebrate! DVD (2005) (Live)
Jubilate! DVD (2005) (Live)
Drive Me Mad! (2007)
Sports Day at Killaloe (2009)
Folk's not dead DVD (2010) (Live)
Wall of Folk (2011)
Winners and Boozers (2013)

Star of the County Down
Fiddler's Green Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Near Banbridge town in the County Down
one morning last July,
from a boreen green came a sweet Colleen
And she smiled as she passed me by.
She looked so sweet from her two bare feet
To the sheen of her nut-brown hair.
Such a coaxing elf, sure I shook myself
For so see I was really there.

Chorus:
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay
and from Galway to Dublin town,
No maid I've seen like the fair colleen
that I met in the County Down.

As she onward sped, sure I scratched my head
And I looked with a feeling rare.
And I say, say's I, to a passer - by,
"Who's the maid with the nut - brown hair"?
He smiled at me and he say's, say's he,
"That's the gem of Ireland's crown.
Young Rosie Mc Cann, from the banks of the bann
She's the star of the County Down."

At the Harvest Fair she'll be surely there
And I'll dress in my Sunday clothes,
with my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked right
for a smile from my nut - brown rose.
No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke
Till my plough it is rust - coloured brown.

Till a smiling bride, by my own fireside
sits the Star of the County Down

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Fiddler's Green's song, Star of the County Down, tell the story of a man who encounters a beautiful woman with nut-brown hair and bare feet as she passes him on the street. The man is captivated by her beauty and asks a passerby for her name, only to learn that she is the "gem of Ireland's crown," named Rosie McCann from the banks of the River Bann. The man is determined to win her heart and plans to dress up in his Sunday best for the Harvest Fair where she will be, hoping for a smile from his "nut-brown rose."

The song is essentially a love story, with a nod to Irish pride and beauty. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the countryside, with references to Banbridge town, the River Bann, and other landmarks across the country. The imagery is rustic and pastoral, with references to ploughing the fields and sitting by the fireside with a smiling bride.

Overall, the lyrics of Star of the County Down capture the essence of rural Irish life, with a romantic twist that is sure to resonate with listeners.

Line by Line Meaning

Near Banbridge town in the County Down
In the County Down, near Banbridge Town, the events of this story took place.

one morning last July,
The specific time of year is July, and it was in the morning that the events of this story began.

from a boreen green came a sweet Colleen
A young woman, referred to as a Colleen, appeared on a green pathway.

And she smiled as she passed me by.
The Colleen smiled at the storyteller as she walked past him.

She looked so sweet from her two bare feet
The storyteller found the Colleen very attractive, even down to her bare feet.

To the sheen of her nut-brown hair.
The Colleen's hair was a glossy, brown color.

Such a coaxing elf, sure I shook myself
The storyteller was so charmed by the Colleen that he wondered if he was dreaming.

For so see I was really there.
He had to confirm that he was indeed awake and seeing this beautiful woman.

From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay
This line describes a wide geographic range, from Bantry Bay to Derry Quay in Ireland.

and from Galway to Dublin town,
Also included in this range is the cities of Galway and Dublin.

No maid I've seen like the fair colleen
The storyteller has never seen a woman as lovely as the Colleen he encountered.

that I met in the County Down.
He met her specifically in the County Down.

As she onward sped, sure I scratched my head
As she walked away, the storyteller pondered her beauty and wondered who she was.

And I looked with a feeling rare.
The feelings he had were beyond what he usually experiences.

And I say, say's I, to a passer - by,
The storyteller asked a passerby a question.

"Who's the maid with the nut - brown hair"?
He specifically inquired about the Colleen he had just encountered.

He smiled at me and he say's, say's he,
The passerby smiled and responded to the storyteller.

"That's the gem of Ireland's crown.
The passerby called the Colleen the gem of Ireland's crown, meaning she was a truly beautiful and valuable person.

Young Rosie Mc Cann, from the banks of the bann
The passerby even knew her name and where she was from.

She's the star of the County Down."
He finished by declaring her the star of the County Down.

At the Harvest Fair she'll be surely there
The storyteller plans to see the Colleen again at the Harvest Fair, an annual event in Ireland.

And I'll dress in my Sunday clothes,
The storyteller plans to dress up for this occasion.

with my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked right
He will take great care in how he presents himself, with shiny shoes and stylish hat.

for a smile from my nut - brown rose.
He hopes to catch the Colleen's attention and receive a smile from her.

No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke
The storyteller will be abstaining from smoking and working with horses until he has accomplished his goal.

Till my plough it is rust - coloured brown.
The storyteller won't be working on his farm until his plough is rusty brown from disuse.

Till a smiling bride, by my own fireside
The storyteller won't be truly satisfied until he is married to the Colleen and they can sit near their own fire together.

sits the Star of the County Down
The Colleen, the Star of the County Down, is the woman he hopes to marry and spend his life with.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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