The band has recorded many albums of instrumental Irish folk music, as well as multiple collaborations with popular musicians of many genres, including Country music, Galician traditional music, Cape Breton and Newfoundland music, and rock and roll. They have performed with Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, Sting, Roger Daltrey, Elvis Costello, Tom Jones, Sinéad O'Connor, James Galway, Jackson Browne, Nancy Griffith and numerous Country-western artists. In 1975, the group won praise for their playing of "Women of Ireland" for Stanley Kubrick's movie Barry Lyndon.
They have won six Grammy Awards and have been nominated eighteen times. In 2002 they were given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the UK's BBC Radio 2. The front covers of the first four albums were designed by Edward Delaney.
Paddy Moloney is the band's leader, and composes or arranges most of the band's music. While the band's members changed numerous times in the band's early history, the membership solidified in 1979 when Matt Molloy replaced Michael Tubridy.
From then until 2002, members included:
Paddy Moloney (uilleann pipes, tin whistle, button accordion, bodhrán)
Matt Molloy (flute, tin whistle)
Kevin Conneff (bodhrán, vocals)
Seán Keane (fiddle, tin whistle)
Martin Fay (fiddle, bones) (born 1938; died 14 November 2012)
Derek Bell (Irish harp, keyboard instruments, oboe) (born 21 October 1935; died 17 October 2002)
In 2002, Fay retired from active membership. In the same year, Bell died due to complications following a minor operation. Fay died on 14 November 2012.
Carolina Rua / The Ladies' Pantalettes
The Chieftains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come to conclusions:
Carolina ruadh has a hand in my confusion
Wait's for me to choose which
Quarter to bend in to Susie-Make-Me-Blue
Or the redhead I'm attending
Now Carolina ruadh has my heart and
Where my Carolina goes:
Down the crooked road where
Carolina goes to school
Mo Charolina ruadh, do you love me?
Tell me true, tell me
Standing on three queens
Thought the game was over
Then, from the blue
Carolina's at my shoulder:
Laughter in her eyes and a smile
That touches all the guys
On down the windy road where Carolina goes
On down the crooked road where
Carolina goes to school
Mo Charolina ruadh, do you love me?
Tell me true, tell me
Now carolina ruadh has my heart and
All I want to do's go down the windy road
Where my Carolina goes:
Down the crooked road where
Carolina goes to school
Mo Charolina ruadh, do you love me?
Tell me true, tell me
The lyrics of "Carolina Rua / The Ladies' Pantalettes" tell the story of a narrator who is torn between two women, Carolina and Susie-Make-Me-Blue. Carolina is described as having a hand in the singer's confusion and the power to sway his heart. The singer is faced with a choice between these two women, depicted as the redhead he is currently attending and the enigmatic Carolina ruadh (red).
The song brings forth a sense of uncertainty and indecision as the singer contemplates his feelings for Carolina. He expresses his desire to go down the windy road where Carolina goes, suggesting a longing for a deeper connection with her. However, he also questions her feelings, asking Carolina if she truly loves him.
The presence of Carolina in the singer's life brings a sense of surprise and excitement. Her laughter and captivating smile seem to have an effect on all the men around her. This further adds complexity to the singer's feelings, as he finds himself drawn to her despite the presence of Susie-Make-Me-Blue.
Overall, the lyrics of "Carolina Rua / The Ladies' Pantalettes" highlight the inner turmoil of the singer as he grapples with his emotions and the choice between two women.
Line by Line Meaning
Stories never end 'til you
The unfolding narrative continues until you reach a resolution
Come to conclusions:
Reach definitive decisions or judgments
Carolina ruadh has a hand in my confusion
Carolina, the red-haired woman, contributes to my state of bewilderment
Wait's for me to choose which
She waits for me to decide between
Quarter to bend in to Susie-Make-Me-Blue
Two options: Susie, who makes me feel melancholic
Or the redhead I'm attending
Or the red-haired woman I am devoted to
Now Carolina ruadh has my heart and
Currently, Carolina possesses my affection and devotion
All I want to do's go down the windy road
I simply desire to follow the uncertain path
Where my Carolina goes:
The route Carolina chooses to take
Down the crooked road where
Along the meandering path where
Carolina goes to school
Carolina attends her educational institution
Mo Charolina ruadh, do you love me?
My dear Carolina, do you have affection for me?
Tell me true, tell me
Convey the honest answer to me
Standing on three queens
In a position of strength, surrounded by three influential women
Thought the game was over
Believed the situation had concluded
Then, from the blue
Unexpectedly
Carolina's at my shoulder:
Carolina appears beside me
Laughter in her eyes and a smile
Her eyes reflect joy and her facial expression
That touches all the guys
Evokes a response from all the men
On down the windy road where Carolina goes
Further along the unpredictable path Carolina follows
Mo Charolina ruadh, do you love me?
My dear Carolina, do you have affection for me?
Tell me true, tell me
Convey the honest answer to me
Now carolina ruadh has my heart and
Currently, Carolina possesses my affection and devotion
All I want to do's go down the windy road
I simply desire to follow the uncertain path
Where my Carolina goes:
The route Carolina chooses to take
Down the crooked road where
Along the meandering path where
Carolina goes to school
Carolina attends her educational institution
Mo Charolina ruadh, do you love me?
My dear Carolina, do you have affection for me?
Tell me true, tell me
Convey the honest answer to me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tom canterbury
on North Amerikay
the great accapella version by kevin on tribute to their harpist