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.
Tennessee Waltz / Tennessee Mazurka
The Chieftains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When an old friend I happened to see
Introduced him to my Darlin'
And while they were dancing
My friend stole my sweetheart from me
I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost
The night they were playing
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz
I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost
Yes, I lost my little darlin'
The night they were playing
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz
Yes, I lost my little darlin'
The night they were playing
The beautiful, the wonderful, the marvelous, the glorious, the beautiful Tennessee Waltz
The lyrics of The Chieftains feat. Tom Jones's song Tennessee Waltz / Tennessee Mazurka tell a story of heartbreak, betrayal, and loss. The singer is at a dance with their significant other, dancing to the Tennessee Waltz, a beautiful and romantic song. However, their happiness is interrupted when an old friend arrives and is introduced to the singer's partner. While they were all dancing together, the friend steals the singer's sweetheart away, leaving them alone and heartbroken.
The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia as the singer reflects on the night and realizes how much they have lost. The Tennessee Waltz, while once a beautiful and romantic song, now serves as a painful reminder of their lost love. The repeated refrain of "the beautiful Tennessee Waltz" reinforces this bittersweet sentiment, highlighting the contrast between the beauty of the music and the sadness of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
I was dancing with my darlin' to the Tennessee Waltz
I was enjoying a beautiful moment with my loved one, dancing to the Tennessee Waltz.
When an old friend I happened to see
Suddenly, I saw an old friend.
Introduced him to my Darlin'
I decided to introduce my friend to my partner.
And while they were dancing
As I watched them dance together,
My friend stole my sweetheart from me
My friend took advantage of the moment and ended up taking my beloved away from me.
I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
I can never forget that unforgettable night, and I associate it with the beautiful Tennessee Waltz.
Now I know just how much I have lost
Now I'm aware of the great loss I suffered as a result of that night.
Yes, I lost my little darlin'
Unfortunately, I lost the love of my life.
The night they were playing
The night when they played the song
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz
The incredibly breathtaking Tennessee Waltz.
Yes, I lost my little darlin'
It bears repeating, I lost my beloved partner.
The night they were playing
The night when the Tennessee Waltz played
The beautiful, the wonderful, the marvelous, the glorious, the beautiful Tennessee Waltz
An anthem to the exquisite beauty, wonder, marvelousness, glory, and aesthetic perfection of the Tennessee Waltz.
Contributed by Micah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
tom canterbury
on North Amerikay
the great accapella version by kevin on tribute to their harpist