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.
The Frost Is All Over
The Chieftains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What would I do but to fill it again
What would you do if the cows eat the clover?
What would I do but to set it again
The parties are dug and the frost is all over
Kitty lie over close to the wall
How would you like to be married to a solider?
Kitty lie over close to the wall
What would you do if you married a solider?
What would I do only follow his gun
What would you do if he died on the ocean?
What would I do only marry again
The prairies all boil and the herrings are roasted
Kitty lie over close to the wall
You to be drunk and I to be sober
Kitty lie over close to the wall
What would you do if the kettle boiled over?
What would I do but to fill it again
What would you do if the cows eat the clover?
What would I do but to set it again
The praties are dug and the frost is all over
Kitty lie over close to the wall
How would you like to be married to a solider?
Kitty lie over close to the wall
"The Frost Is All Over" is a traditional Irish song, interpreted by The Chieftains and Punch Brothers. The song is a playful conversation between a man and a woman, likely a young couple who are planning their future together. In the first verse, the two discuss hypothetical situations, such as the kettle boiling over or cows eating the clover. They reassure each other that they would simply fix the problem and carry on. The tone is light and romantic, as the man asks the woman to lie close to him ("Kitty lie over close to the wall").
In the second verse, the man asks the woman how she would handle being married to a soldier. She replies that she would follow his gun, suggesting that she would be a faithful and supportive wife. However, when asked how she would react if he died at sea, she quickly replies that she would marry again. The carefree attitude towards marriage is consistent with the overall tone of the song. The final line, "Kitty lie over close to the wall," indicates that the couple are lying in bed together, perhaps cuddled up for warmth.
Overall, "The Frost Is All Over" is a sweet and lighthearted song that captures the playful banter of a young couple. The lyrics are simple and repetitive, lending themselves well to the upbeat and catchy melody.
Line by Line Meaning
What would you do if the kettle boiled over?
If the kettle boiled over, what action would you take to remedy the situation?
What would I do but to fill it again
The only course of action would be to refill the kettle.
What would you do if the cows eat the clover?
What steps would you take if the cows consume all of the clover?
What would I do but to set it again
My response would simply be to plant more clover.
The praties are dug and the frost is all over
The potatoes have been harvested, and the frost has covered the ground.
Kitty lie over close to the wall
Kitty, please lie down close to the wall.
How would you like to be married to a solider?
What are your thoughts on marrying a soldier?
What would I do only follow his gun
If I married a soldier, I would only follow him to battles.
What would you do if he died on the ocean?
If he perished at sea, what would you do?
What would I do only marry again
I would move on and marry someone else.
The prairies all boil and the herrings are roasted
The prairies are scorching, and the herrings are cooked to perfection.
You to be drunk and I to be sober
You are becoming inebriated, and I am remaining sober.
Kitty lie over close to the wall
Kitty, please lie down close to the wall.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Paddy Moloney, DP DP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
tom canterbury
on North Amerikay
the great accapella version by kevin on tribute to their harpist