Ireland was born in Bowdon, near Altrincham, Manchester, into a family of Scottish descent and some cultural distinction. His parents died soon after he had entered the Royal College of Music at the age of 14. He studied piano and organ there, and later composition under Charles Villiers Stanford. He subsequently became a teacher at the College himself, his pupils including Ernest John Moeran (who admired him) and Benjamin Britten (who found Ireland’s teaching of less interest). He was sub organist at Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Street, London SW1, and later became organist and choirmaster at St. Luke’s Church, Chelsea, London. Ireland frequently visited the Channel Islands and was inspired by their landscape; he was evacuated from them just before the German invasion during World War II. Ireland retired in 1953, settling at the small hamlet of Rock in Sussex for the rest of his life. He is buried in nearby Shipley churchyard.
[1] Ireland regretted immediately his marriage, which he never consummated. His assistant and companion, Norah Kirkby, destroyed portions of Ireland's papers and correspondence upon his death, donating the remainder to the British Library. But see Fiona Richards, "An Anthology of Friendship: The Letters of John Ireland to Father Kenneth Thompson", in Queer Episodes in Music and Modern Identity (2002): "Despite his brief and ultimately unsuccessful relationships with women, there is no doubt that Ireland was considerably more interested in men, specifically much younger men. There is, however, no direct evidence that Ireland ever had a close sexual relationship with a man or a boy, and he did not particularly mix in homosexual circles. He was a very private figure, and because of this and the problems involved in extracting relevant information, there has never been any truly open discussion of Ireland's personal life. In particular, there has been little written about his religious convictions or his sexuality." The article covers the subject in some depth.
From Stanford, Ireland inherited a thorough knowledge of the music of Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms and other German classics, but as a young man he was also strongly influenced by Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel as well as the earlier works by Igor Stravinsky and Béla Bartók. From these influences, he developed his own brand of "English Impressionism", related closer to French and Russian models than to the folk-song style then prevailing in English music.
Like most other Impressionist composers, Ireland favoured small forms and wrote neither symphonies nor operas, although his Piano Concerto is among his best works. His output includes some chamber music and a substantial body of piano works, including his best-known piece The Holy Boy, known in numerous arrangements. His songs to poems by A. E. Housman, Thomas Hardy, Christina Rossetti, John Masefield and Rupert Brooke are a valuable addition to English vocal repertoire. Due to his job at St. Luke’s Church, he also wrote hymns, carols and other sacred choral music; among choirs he is probably best known for the anthem Greater Love, often sung in services that commemorate the victims of war. His Communion Service in C is also performed. Some of his pieces, such as the popular A Downland Suite, were completed or re-transcribed after his death by his student Geoffrey Bush.
2.
John Ireland was born John Griffith on the 24th August 1954 in Ireland (some sources say Boksburg), South Africa. He attended Boksburg High School in the mid-70s. In 1977 he and Jonathan Handley formed the band Slither and were based in Springs. He studied medicine with Jonathan at Wits University and they both became doctors. Slither later became The Radio Rats. John has musical training in classical piano to an advanced level and also plays guitar and drums.
I Like
John Ireland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i like
uh hu hu hu hu hu
with you
oh your mouth feels so warm
i like
uh hu hu hu hu hu
oh your skin is so wet
i like
hu hu hu hu hu hu
with you
cold ice cream
taken with a sticky spoon
apple slices
ooh custard and banana
syrup apricot
lots of cream to make it wilder
i like
hu hu hu hu hu hu
with you
oh your mouth feels so warm
i like
hu hu hu hu hu hu
with you
oh your skin is so wet
i like
hu hu hu hu hu hu
with you
hu hu hu hu hu hu
tangerine liqueurs
they supplement the body juices
ruby grapes and wine
ancient romans knew the potions
cognac trifle
against the skin it taste of almonds
lemon cream
forbidden fruit
kinky capers
kinky capers
i like
hu hu hu hu hu hu
with you
oh your mouth feels so warm
i like
hu hu hu hu hu hu
with you
oh your skin is so wet
i like
hu hu hu hu hu hu
with you
oh your mouth feels so warm
i like
hu hu hu hu hu hu
with you
oh your skin is so wet
i like
hu hu hu hu hu hu
with you
hu hu hu hu hu hu
i like
hu hu hu hu hu hu
with you
hu hu hu hu hu hu
i like
hu hu hu hu hu hu
with you
hu hu hu hu hu hu
i like
hu hu hu hu hu hu
with you
hu hu hu hu hu hu
i like
hu hu hu hu hu hu
with you
hu hu hu hu hu hu
i like
hu hu hu hu hu hu
with you
hu hu hu hu hu hu
i like
hu hu hu hu hu hu
with you
hu hu hu hu hu hu
i like
The lyrics of John Ireland's song "I Like" are a celebration of sensual pleasures and indulgences. The singer expresses his enjoyment of being with his lover and sharing various treats and delicacies with her. The lyrics use sensory details to describe the pleasures of taste and touch, from the cold ice cream taken with a sticky spoon to the warm and wet sensations of his lover's mouth and skin. The song also alludes to the aphrodisiacal properties of certain foods and drinks, such as tangerine liqueurs and cognac trifle, as well as the mythical appeal of forbidden fruit.
At its core, "I Like" is a simple and straightforward love song that celebrates the physical and emotional joys of being with someone who excites and pleases you. The lyrics suggest a sense of abandon and indulgence, as the singer revels in the pleasures of the moment without worrying about consequences or moral judgments. The repetition of the "hu hu hu hu hu hu" and "oh your mouth feels so warm / oh your skin is so wet" lines creates a hypnotic and erotic effect, reinforcing the physical intensity of the singer's desire.
Overall, "I Like" is a playful and sensual song that celebrates the pleasures of the senses and the joys of being with someone who shares your tastes and desires.
Line by Line Meaning
i like
I enjoy
uh hu hu hu hu hu
An expression of pleasure
with you
In your company
oh your mouth feels so warm
Your lips generate heat that I find pleasant
oh your skin is so wet
Your skin is moist and I find it appealing
cold ice cream
Frozen dessert
taken with a sticky spoon
Eaten with a utensil that has a residue from previous use
apple slices
Pieces of sliced apple fruit
ooh custard and banana
Expressing delight at the combination of custard and banana flavors
syrup apricot
Syrup made with apricot fruit
lots of cream to make it wilder
Using a lot of cream to make the taste more intense
tangerine liqueurs
Alcoholic beverages made from tangerine fruit
they supplement the body juices
They add to or enhance the body's natural fluids
ruby grapes and wine
Red grapes and alcoholic beverage made from grapes
ancient romans knew the potions
Reference to the use of wine and other alcoholic drinks by ancient Romans
cognac trifle
Dessert made with cognac liqueur
against the skin it taste of almonds
The flavor of almond can be tasted when the cognac is applied on the skin
lemon cream
Creamy dessert flavored with lemon
forbidden fruit
Reference to the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible, where they ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil
kinky capers
Provocative and possibly unconventional activities
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: John Ireland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mv8428
Well, I like.. The bass nice and deep, brings out the passion in the song. I don't care what the neighbors say, this song often plays very loudly on my hi-fi
@andrewworrall4302
Can I be your neighbour please?
@doug_1489
Ja jinne those were the popshop days...I was a pikkie. proud capetonian
@brent1970
the memories this song evokes - I was 12 when i heard it...blew me away!
@LobarRobotic
this song blew me too ;)
@johannstemmet9559
Ditto..
@andreerasmus8465
Who is listing to this in 2020 SA.
@TripleG69
Ek!😊
@letsgofishingza
Selle hier. Sit die heelweek in my kop vas!
@jeandremeyer476
@@letsgofishingza Ek is 23 jaar oud, die liedjie is so ver voor my tyd, ek het dit vir die eerste keer nou onlangs gehoor en ek kan dit net nie uitlos nie.