Coming from a family with a keen musical interest, Flannery was introduced to folk and blues music at a young age. He says that he wrote his first song at the age of fifteen. When he was in school he got together with a few local guys and formed a rock band called Black Orange but their gigging history was sporadic and they went their separate ways a few years after. Later, while undergoing a music and management course at Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa in Cork, Flannery commenced writing the album that would become "Evening Train", an eleven-track concept album about the exploits of two brothers. Released in 2007, the album was received positively by critics in Ireland and the United States.
Flannery's second studio album "White Lies" was released on 12 September 2008, achieving a top ten position on the Irish Albums Chart. It later went platinum and was nominated for the Choice Music Prize.
Flannery released his third studio album, Red to Blue, on 30 March 2012.
Official site: www.mickflannery.com
Take It On The Chin
Mick Flannery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Luther: I'm in.
Paulie: I'm out.
John: Not a chance.
Boy, you'd better have some balls in those pants
Gimme two cards.
Luther: One card.
Ray: Oh look at that!
Try to fill a flush up to bite me in the ass.
Jese, you must think Lady Luck is up there hidin' in your hat,
Or you're tryin' to fuckin; fool me boy, we'll see about that.
It's a hundred to play now, we'll see what you weigh now,
The pot is getting hotter boy, we'll see if you stay around.
(Frank and Grace)
Oh, the road, the riverboat,
Take it on the chin and deal again,
Till your money's spent.
John: Jacks or better, deuces wild,
Man, I haven't won a round in while.
This whiskey must be cloudin' my mind.
I'm getting older, could be losin' my style.
Paulie: Hey John, I hear you're leavin' us
Headin' off to better parts.
Don't you go forget us now,
I hope you're gonna send a card.
John: Yeah, I'm headin' down south a while,
You know me, just the wife and I,
I hear the weathers mighty fine
Down by St Columbentine.
But God knows I need a break from these
And paying your kids college fees
You'll miss my money more than me
Hey, why don't the two of you calm down
You're acting like a pair of
Ray: Shut the fuck up, what the fucks it got to do with you
I don't see your money here so you don't get to contribute
Nothin' to this little battle me and the boy are havin'.
Luther: You gonna play or you gonna talk all day?
If you don't got the money, throw those cards aay.
Ray: Ah you're bluffin', you got nothin', I say read ‘em and weep, cause I'm in.
The song "Take It On The Chin" by Mick Flannery narrates a scene of four men - Ray, Luther, Paulie, and John - playing poker. The opening lines have Ray increasing the bet to fifty dollars, which Luther takes up, Paulie abandons, and John outright rejects. The lyrics use poker as an analogy for taking risks in life, facing losses, and getting back on your feet. Ray is portrayed as a shrewd poker player who speaks trash talk and intimidates his opponents. Luther, on the other hand, is cautious but confident while Paulie opts to play it safe. John, an experienced player, appears uninterested in the game - perhaps, signifying his resignation to life's uncertainties.
The overall tone of the song is playful, humorous, and ironic, as the lyrics seem to mock the characters' apparent lack of control over their lives, as they try to make sense of their individual situations. Through the use of colorful language, metaphor, and irony, the song highlights the persistence and resilience required to come out on top despite facing numerous setbacks.
Line by Line Meaning
I put fifty fine dollars on this hand
Ray bets 50 dollars on this hand of poker
I'm in.
Luther accepts the bet and is ready to play
I'm out.
Paulie decides not to play
Not a chance.
John also decides not to play
So only one of you dolls wanna dance?
Ray is asking who wants to play poker with him
Boy, you'd better have some balls in those pants
Ray is challenging the other players and urging them to be brave
Gimme two cards.
Ray requests two cards to be dealt to him
One card.
Luther only wants one card dealt to him
Oh look at that!
Ray is pleased with the card he received
Try to fill a flush up to bite me in the ass.
Ray is confident that he will form a flush
Jese, you must think Lady Luck is up there hidin' in your hat, Or you're tryin' to fuckin; fool me boy, we'll see about that.
Ray thinks that Luther is trying to bluff him or he is confident that he has a better hand
It's a hundred to play now, we'll see what you weigh now, The pot is getting hotter boy, we'll see if you stay around.
The bet is raised to 100 dollars, and Ray is waiting to see if Luther will continue playing or not
Oh, the road, the riverboat, Take it on the chin and deal again, Till your money's spent.
Frank and Grace are singing about the struggles of gambling, and how they keep going until they run out of money
Jacks or better, deuces wild, Man, I haven't won a round in while.
John is reminiscing about playing poker and how he hasn't won in a while
This whiskey must be cloudin' my mind. I'm getting older, could be losin' my style.
John thinks his age and drinking might be affecting his gameplay
Hey John, I hear you're leavin' us, Headin' off to better parts. Don't you go forget us now, I hope you're gonna send a card.
Paulie is talking to John, who is planning to leave soon and go on a trip
Yeah, I'm headin' down south a while, You know me, just the wife and I, I hear the weathers mighty fine, Down by St Columbentine.
John confirms that he is indeed leaving and will go on a trip with his wife to St. Columbentine
But God knows I need a break from these, And paying your kids college fees, You'll miss my money more than me, Hey, why don't the two of you calm down, You're acting like a pair of
John complains about supporting other people's kids and tells Paulie and Ray to relax
Shut the fuck up, what the fucks it got to do with you, I don't see your money here so you don't get to contribute, Nothin' to this little battle me and the boy are havin'.
Ray tells John to mind his own business and says that Paulie should not have an opinion either
You gonna play or you gonna talk all day?, If you don't got the money, throw those cards aay.
Luther urges Ray to make his move and not waste time
Ah you're bluffin', you got nothin', I say read ‘em and weep, cause I'm in.
Ray believes that Luther is attempting to bluff him, and confidently stays in the game
Contributed by Harper Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Truffle_Pup
I've loved this song for 10 years. The video adds nothing. I prefer it in my head.
@jussymucky
Quality song, reminds me of Tom Waits - Invitation to the blues, same feeling. Thanks for posting 😎
@KamanchiDoyle
Great to finally see a video for this masterpiece
@maireadmccarthy7956
Brilliant lads!!!!!
@MariaSubboina027
Thanks! Incredibly cool. I love it and do not get tired to listen!
@jan2bratt
Having listened to this song on Mick's Alive at Cork album probably more than 100 times, it is odd to listen to this version, but quite wonderful and different also. Nicely filmed.
@csgrinds
Am grateful to whoever captured the lads in profile, now that music's illegal and there's nothing fun to do anymore.
@Pauly421
God I love the voice of the first guy. "You better have some balls in them pants!" Great lyrics and singing all around well done boiz
@nogenemcguinty
All micks voice
@Pauly421
@@nogenemcguinty Naw its not lol. It's 4 different dudes in this version although he does sing all the parts live I believe