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.
Jack of All Trades
The Chieftains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of ev'ry trade
Of all trades
And if you wish to know my name
They call me Jack of All Trades
I'm a roving and a sporting blade
They call me Jack of All Trades
In courting pretty, fair maids
So when in Dublin I arrive
To look for a situation
You can always hear them all say
"He's the pride of all the nation"
On George's Quay I first began
And there became a porter
But me and me master soon fell out
Which cut our acquaintance shorter
In Sackville Street I was a pastry cook
In James' Street, a baker
In Cook Street I did coffins make
In Eustace Street, a preacher
I'm a roving jack of many a trade
Of ev'ry trade
Of all trades
And if you wish to know my name
They call me Jack of All Trades
In Baggot Street I drove a cab
And there was well respected
In Francis Street I'd lodging beds
To entertain all strangers
Now, Dublin is of high renown
Or I am much mistaken
In Kevin Street, I do declare
I sold butter, eggs, and bacon
In Golden Lane I sold old shoes
In Meath Street was a grinder
In Barrack Street I lost me wife
And I'm glad I ne'er did find her
In Mary's Lane I dyed old clothes
Of which I've often boasted
And later in Exchequer Street
Sold mutton, ready roasted
I'm a roving jack of many a trade
Of ev'ry trade
Of all trades
And if you wish to know my name
They call me Jack of All Trades
The Chieftains’ song “Jack of All Trades” introduces a character who boasts about his many professions and the different tasks he has undertaken throughout his life. The song is an ode to the often-overlooked working class and how they have adapted to different situations to make a living. The first stanza talks about how the singer is a jack of many trades, one who can do anything that he sets his heart to. He is an expert in all trades, and that’s why he is called “Jack of All Trades”. The song talks about how the singer loves the company of fair and pretty maids and how he always courts them.
The rest of the song lists different professions the singer has dabbled in at different places in Dublin. He was a porter on George’s Quay, a pastry cook in Sackville Street, a baker in James Street, a coffin maker in Cook Street, a preacher in Eustace Street, a cab driver in Baggot Street, a lodger in Francis Street, a seller of butter, eggs, and bacon in Kevin Street, a seller of old shoes in Golden Lane, a grinder in Meath Street, a dyer of old clothes at Mary’s Lane, and a seller of mutton, ready roasted in Exchequer Street. The song highlights how the singer changed professions and how he was always ready to adapt to make a living.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a roving jack of many a trade
I have experience working in various professions and am constantly moving around to find new opportunities.
Of ev'ry trade
I have the ability to work in any and all professions.
Of all trades
My ability to work in any profession is not limited.
And if you wish to know my name
If you want to know who I am, I am called Jack of All Trades.
They call me Jack of All Trades
I am referred to as Jack of All Trades by the people I come across.
I'm a roving and a sporting blade
I am always on the move and enjoy a lively and adventurous lifestyle.
I always take a great delight
I enjoy very much
In courting pretty, fair maids
In attempting to attract the love and affection of beautiful women.
So when in Dublin I arrive
Whenever I come to Dublin,
To look for a situation
In search of a job or work.
You can always hear them all say
Everyone will say
"He's the pride of all the nation"
"He's a national treasure"
On George's Quay I first began
I started working on George's Quay.
And there became a porter
I work as a porter there.
But me and me master soon fell out
My relationship with my employer deteriorated quickly.
Which cut our acquaintance shorter
This resulted in me leaving that job soon after.
In Sackville Street I was a pastry cook
I worked as a pastry cook on Sackville Street.
In James' Street, a baker
I worked as a baker on James' Street.
In Cook Street I did coffins make
I made coffins in Cook Street.
In Eustace Street, a preacher
I preached on Eustace Street.
In Baggot Street I drove a cab
I worked as a cab driver on Baggot Street.
And there was well respected
I was highly regarded in that profession.
In Francis Street I'd lodging beds
I had a lodging house on Francis Street.
To entertain all strangers
To provide accommodations for visitors.
Now, Dublin is of high renown
Dublin has a very good reputation.
Or I am much mistaken
Unless I am wrong.
In Kevin Street, I do declare
I must say that on Kevin Street,
I sold butter, eggs, and bacon
I sold groceries such as butter, eggs, and bacon.
In Golden Lane I sold old shoes
I sold second-hand shoes on Golden Lane.
In Meath Street was a grinder
I worked as a grinder on Meath Street.
In Barrack Street I lost me wife
I lost my wife while living on Barrack Street.
And I'm glad I ne'er did find her
I am happy that I never found her.
In Mary's Lane I dyed old clothes
I worked as a dyer on Mary's Lane.
Of which I've often boasted
I have bragged about it many times.
And later in Exchequer Street
After that, on Exchequer Street,
Sold mutton, ready roasted
I sold prepared mutton.
Contributed by Riley T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
tom canterbury
on North Amerikay
the great accapella version by kevin on tribute to their harpist