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.
Past Three O' Clock
The Chieftains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
past three o'clock,
on a cold frosty morn,
past three o'clock,
good morrow masters all.
born is a baby
gentle as may be,
Father supernal.
CHORUS
seraph choir singeth,
angel bell ringeth,
hark how they rhyme it,
time it and chime it!
CHORUS
The Chieftains' song "Past Three O' Clock" is an old English Christmas carol, dating back to at least the 17th century. It's sung in celebration of the birth of Jesus, with repetitive verses and a lively, celebratory tune. The chorus is repeated throughout the song, with each repetition becoming more joyous and exuberant. The first verse describes the time of day - past three o'clock on a cold, frosty morning - as well as the occasion being celebrated - the birth of a baby, described as "gentle as may be" and the "son of the Eternal/Father supernal," referring to Jesus.
The second verse brings in religious imagery, describing a choir of seraphs and the ringing of angelic bells. The repetition and rhyming of the lyrics create a lively, joyful rhythm that encourages listeners to join in singing and celebrating. Overall, "Past Three O' Clock" is a song that captures the spirit of Christmas - a time of joy and celebration, of birth and new beginnings, and of the hope and promise of a new year.
Line by Line Meaning
past three o'clock,
At a time beyond three in the morning
on a cold frosty morn,
During a frigid and icy morning
past three o'clock,
At a time beyond three in the morning
good morrow masters all.
Greetings to everyone present
born is a baby
A child has just been delivered
gentle as may be,
The child is calm and peaceful
son of the Eternal
The child is offspring of the divine and everlasting power
Father supernal.
The child's father is the divine and celestial power
seraph choir singeth,
A heavenly choir of angels sing
angel bell ringeth,
A bell rung by an angel is heard
hark how they rhyme it,
Listen and hear how they sing in unison
time it and chime it!
They sing in perfect time and harmony
past three o'clock,
At a time beyond three in the morning
on a cold frosty morn,
During a frigid and icy morning
past three o'clock,
At a time beyond three in the morning
good morrow masters all.
Greetings to everyone present
Contributed by Nolan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
tom canterbury
on North Amerikay
the great accapella version by kevin on tribute to their harpist