As … Read Full Bio ↴Orthodox Celts is an irish folk rock band from Belgrade, Serbia.
As a popular band playing Irish music, Orthodox Celts are practically unique not only in Serbia but in the whole of Southeastern Europe and further afield. Despite their unusual music, since their founding in 1993 they have been one of the most popular bands in Serbia. Their music led to a popularisation of Irish and Celtic music and other aspects of Irish and Celtic culture in Serbia, especially Guinness beer. The band members are fans of the Celtic F.C., and some of the band's fans are too.
The band started their career with traditional Irish songs and, gradually, introduced more and more of their own material (lyrics mostly by Aleksandar, music mostly by Ana). All their songs are in the English language (or as they say, in the Irish language), but the group has composed some purely instrumental songs as well. In addition, the band has released several videos.
The Orthodox Celts have had several tours and numerous concerts inside and outside of the country (including in the Sava Center, one of the largest concert halls in Serbia). It is already a tradition of theirs to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a large concert in Belgrade.
In all of the band's interviews, they state that their greatest desire is to tour Ireland!
Members:
* Aleksandar Petrović (aka Aca Seltik) - lead vocal
* Nikola Stanojević - violin
* Dejan Lalić - Irish tenor banjo, mandolin, octave mandola, guitar, Scottish bagpipes, jew's harp, back vocals
* Dusan Živanović - drums, percussion, bodhran, accordion, back vocals
* Dejan Grujić - bass, back vocals
* Vladan Jovković - guitar, back vocals
* Bojan Petrović - tin whistle, low whistle, back vocals
Salonika
Orthodox Celts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wonder if he knows he has a kid with a foxy head?
CHORUS
So right away, so right away,
So right away to Salonika, right away me soldier boy.
Now when the war is over what will the slackers do?
Now when the war is over what will the soldiers do?
They'll be walking around with leg and a half and slackers they'll have two.
They taxed our pound of butter, they taxed half penny bun,
But still with all their taxes, they can't bate the bloody hun.
They taxed the Coliseum, they taxed St. Mary's Hall,
Why don't they tax the bobbies with their backs against the wall.
Now when the war is over what will the slackers do?
For every kid in America in Cork there will be two.
They take us out to Blarney and lays us on the grass,
They puts us in the family way and leaves us on our ass.
There's lino on the Parlour and in the kitchen too,
There's a glass back chevonier that we got from Dicky Glue.
Now never marry a soldier, a sailor or a marine,
Now keep you eyes on the Sinn Fein Boy with his yellow, white and green.
The song begins with a woman wondering if her husband, who is fighting in Salonika during the First World War, is alive or dead. She also mentions that she has a child with a "foxy head" which suggests that her husband may not be aware of the child's birth. The chorus expresses her desire to travel to Salonika to be with her husband.
The following verses talk about the challenges that soldiers and civilians faced during the war. The first verse talks about how after the war, people who did not fight in the war, the "slackers" would come looking for money from soldiers. The second verse speaks about the physical toll the war took on the soldiers, leaving them with injuries such as a missing leg while the civilians who did not fight in the war would have it easy.
The third verse mentions the various taxes imposed by the government during the war but that did not stop the enemy from attacking. The fourth verse speaks about the discrimination faced by women who were left pregnant by British soldiers. The song ends with advice on whom to marry; not a soldier, a sailor, or a marine, but rather a Sinn Fein Boy with his colors of green, white, and yellow.
Line by Line Meaning
Me husband's in Salonika, I wonder if he's dead,
I am worried about my husband who is in Salonika and I am unsure of his current state
I wonder if he knows he has a kid with a foxy head?
I am curious if my husband knows that he has a child with bright red hair
So right away, so right away,
So right away to Salonika, right away me soldier boy.
I must immediately go to Salonika to be with my soldier husband
Now when the war is over what will the slackers do?
When the war ends, what will the lazy people who didn't fight do?
They'll be all around the soldiers for the loan of a bob or two.
They will try to borrow money from the soldiers when the war ends
They'll be walking around with leg and a half and slackers they'll have two.
The soldiers will be injured and the non-fighters will still be lazy
They taxed our pound of butter, they taxed half penny bun,
The government taxed our basic necessities like butter and bread
But still with all their taxes, they can't bate the bloody hun.
Despite the government's taxes, they still cannot defeat the German enemy
They taxed the Coliseum, they taxed St. Mary's Hall,
The government taxed entertainment venues like the Coliseum and St. Mary's Hall
Why don't they tax the bobbies with their backs against the wall.
Why don't they tax the police with their backs against the wall for a change?
For every kid in America in Cork there will be two.
There will be twice the number of children in Cork as compared to America
They take us out to Blarney and lays us on the grass,
They take us to Blarney and lay us down on the grass
They puts us in the family way and leaves us on our ass.
They impregnate us and leave us to deal with the consequences on our own
There's lino on the Parlour and in the kitchen too,
There is linoleum flooring in both the living and kitchen rooms
There's a glass back chevonier that we got from Dicky Glue.
We obtained a glass fronted cabinet from Dicky Glue
Now never marry a soldier, a sailor or a marine,
It is advised not to marry a military man
Now keep you eyes on the Sinn Fein Boy with his yellow, white and green.
Pay attention to the Sinn Fein Boy with his colors of yellow, white and green
Contributed by Reagan O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.