Unusual sound, intimate lyrics, melodious music and charismatic appearance … Read Full Bio ↴Unusual sound, intimate lyrics, melodious music and charismatic appearance certainly make the first impression a person gets when it comes to Irish Stew, the band. This is the thing that connects them, after only one listen, with the audience of all generations. Their ability to make even a random passer-by dance on their concerts is a guaranty for great fun over and over again. Firm friendship and special kind of relationship that exists between the band members provide unforgettable atmosphere at their concerts. They have gained many fans by touring all over Serbia. They exchange energy and emotions with them and they always go back.

So Many Words...

From their first performance in June 2003 until the recording of their first album, Irish Stew had been looking for their own style. A few people and a few different instruments passed through the band untill the winning combination at that time was found. Finally, the band's members were Bojan Petrovic (vocals, tin whistle), Nenad Gavrilov (guitar), Ana Mrkobrada (violin), Ivan Djuric (banjo), Aleksandar Gospodinov (bass guitar) and Pavle Medan (drums). Irish Stew changed its members because they were on a search for their musical selves. At first, the band played covers of famous Irish folk songs, as well as The Pogues' covers, but soon after that the creativity and inspiration for making their own music arouse. This period gave birth to the hit songs such as Why, Puzzle of Life, Stout, McGee's Daughter, that, together with 8 other songs, found their place on Irish Stew's debut album So Many Words (2005). The making of the album was a big step forward for the band, in other words, going up onto the next level. Many awards received at numerous demo festivals created great expectations from the band and the album, which were justified and even overcome by the whole edition of the album having been sold out rather quickly - in terms of Serbian marketplace.

Dare To Dream

Making of the second album has put the standards even higher, having in mind the success of the first album that needed to be justified. During this period, Irish Stew left their authentic signature on the music scene in Serbia. Compared to the first album, the band allowed themselves to experiment with other musical genres, but they still kept the beloved Irish influence and true emotion as their creativity’s essence. The lining of the band didn’t change much. There were Bojan Petrovic (vocals, tin whistle), Nenad Gavrilov (guitar), Ana Mrkobrada (violin), Ivan Djuric (banjo), Aleksandar Gospodinov (bass guitar) and Marko Krasnic (drums). Album Dare To Dream was released on 2008 and it featured the song Ditch which was, according to many, the best thing brewed by the band until then.

At the moment, Irish Stew spend most of their time in the studio working on their third album whose release is expected in autumn of 2011. New ideas and inexhaustible inspiration!

Blessed and Damned
Irish Stew of Sindidun Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Our lives are cheap and small in this rusty world of ours
One day you walk through brambles, next day you reach the stars
Then you find your fellow-traveler to stray of the way
Born in hell to be a prisoner and see the light one day

I'm so tired of second chances and those who want me down
If I become the king, they'll take away my crown
All I want is to find the place where no one needs to hide

Where I'll see my sweetheart happy, settled down by my side

And what are you searching for in the heart of the night?
It's so hard to see the things beyond your sight
These things are always better not to be seen
Let those things only be part of your dreams
In real life, let them stay unseen

Long ago before the time, before life existed
When there only was nothingness, few things were enlisted
But Almighty spilled the ink and lost his sacred feather,
Made impossible for him to make our scant lives better

I remember many pints of finest Guinness beer
You drink it when you're happy, you drink it when you fear
And the old man often used to speak of life as a hat
You never know the rabbit's color, is it green, white or black

And what are you searching for in the heart of the night?
It's so hard to see the things beyond your sight
These things are always better not to be seen
Let those things only be part of your dreams
In real life, let them stay unseen

I will gladly cross the ocean, but I fear to step on a plane
On a ship I'll get the measles and that's pretty same
Then I'll take the road to God knows by bus or a train
And watch little kids through window, running down a plain.

And what are you searching for in the heart of the night?
It's so hard to see the things beyond your sight
These things are always better not to be seen

Let those things only be part of your dreams
In real life, let them stay unseen

Overall Meaning

The song "Blessed and Damned" by Irish Stew is a reflection on life and the struggles that come with it. The first stanza acknowledges the unpredictability of life, comparing it to walking through brambles one day and reaching the stars the next. The second stanza is a lament of the singer's frustration with second chances and those who try to bring them down. The third stanza questions the nature of existence and encourages the listener to be content with dreams rather than seeking the truth that may be hard to see. The fourth stanza alludes to the creation of life and the limitations that come with it. The fifth stanza is a nostalgic remembrance of the pleasures of life, in particular, drinking Guinness beer and the wise words of an old man. The final stanza expresses the fear of traveling and the simple joys of watching children play.

One theme that runs throughout the song is the seeking of happiness and contentment amidst life's challenges. The lyrics suggest that happiness is possible but not always easy to find. The song also touches on the transience of life and the importance of cherishing the simple moments. The line "In real life, let them stay unseen," highlights the idea that some things are better left untouched and to just enjoy life as it presents itself.

Line by Line Meaning

Our lives are cheap and small in this rusty world of ours
In this world, our lives do not hold much significance or value and are insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

One day you walk through brambles, next day you reach the stars
Life is unpredictable and can change drastically in a matter of moments. You can go from facing obstacles to achieving great things in a short span.

Then you find your fellow-traveler to stray of the way
Along the journey of life, you may come across someone who takes you off your path and leads you astray from your goals.

Born in hell to be a prisoner and see the light one day
Sometimes people are born into difficult situations that feel like prisons, but they will eventually see a brighter future.

I'm so tired of second chances and those who want me down
The artist is weary of constantly being given second chances and dealing with people who seek to bring them down.

If I become the king, they'll take away my crown
The singer fears that if they attain success, there will be those who try to take it away from them.

All I want is to find the place where no one needs to hide
The singer desires to discover a place where people can be their true selves and not feel the need to hide or put on a facade.

Where I'll see my sweetheart happy, settled down by my side
The artist longs to see their loved one content and happy, living their life by their side.

And what are you searching for in the heart of the night?
The artist prompts introspection to identify what someone may be searching for during the dark, quiet moments of the night.

It's so hard to see the things beyond your sight
It can be difficult to envision beyond what can be immediately seen or to see what is not yet realized.

These things are always better not to be seen
Some things may be better left unseen or only experienced as a part of one's dreams.

Let those things only be part of your dreams
Some experiences are better left as fantasies or only experienced in one's imagination.

In real life, let them stay unseen
Certain things are better not to be experienced in reality and are better left as vague concepts or dream-like experiences.

Long ago before the time, before life existed
Referring to the time before creation, when nothing existed or was brought to being.

When there only was nothingness, few things were enlisted
In the pre-creation time, very few things or concepts existed or could be recognized.

But Almighty spilled the ink and lost his sacred feather,
A metaphorical reference that the creation of life or the universe required divine intervention or direction, and there were difficulties faced along the way.

Made impossible for him to make our scant lives better
The artist postulates that even with divine intervention, it was not possible to make human lives substantially better or more significant.

I remember many pints of finest Guinness beer
Recollection of memories of indulgence, enjoyment of life, and times spent being carefree.

You drink it when you're happy, you drink it when you fear
Guinness beer is often associated with both celebrating and commiseration, hence the drink can be enjoyed in moments of happiness or as a coping mechanism when one is afraid.

And the old man often used to speak of life as a hat
An analogy used to describe how life is unpredictable and full of surprises, much like a hat can produce unexpected tricks.

You never know the rabbit's color, is it green, white or black
The artist extends the analogy that life is unpredictable and one cannot predict its outcomes, much like a magician's hat from which a rabbit can emerge in any of many possible colors.

I will gladly cross the ocean, but I fear to step on a plane
The artist is willing to journey across the ocean, but they have reservations or fears about traveling by plane.

On a ship I'll get the measles and that's pretty same
The singer alludes to the possibility of falling sick while traveling, with measles being an example of a disease one could contract while on a ship.

Then I'll take the road to God knows by bus or a train
The artist expresses uncertainty about the routes and modes of travel they will take to get to their destination following their initial reservations.

And watch little kids through window, running down a plain.
The singer imagines themselves observing happy children playing in the fields while they journey to their intended location.

Contributed by Elliot V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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