Formed while the members were working in America, the initial impetus was to record an album of Irish rebel songs (released as "The Rising of the Moon") as one of the first releases in 1956 of new folk label, Tradition Records. Paddy Clancy's harmonica provided the only musical accompaniment for this debut album.
Little thought was given at that point to continuing as a singing group. The four were all were busy establishing careers (in the theatre) for themselves, in addition to their work at Tradition Records. With the album being a local success, requests were often demanded for the brothers and Makem to sing some of their songs at parties and informal pub settings. Slowly, the singing gigs began to outweigh the acting gigs and by 1959, serious thought was given to a new album. Liam had developed some guitar skills, Tommy's hand, which hasd been injured, had healed enough that he was again able to play tin whistle and Uilleann pipes, and the times spent singing together had improved their style. No longer were they the rough, mostly unaccompanied group of actors singing for an album to jump-start a record label; they were becoming a professional singing group.
The Clancy Brothers were an influential Irish folk music singing group. Most popular in the 1960s, they were famed for their woolly Aran jumpers and are widely credited with popularizing Irish traditional music in the United States. The brothers were Patrick "Paddy" Clancy, Tom Clancy, Bobby Clancy and Liam Clancy. Paddy, Tom, Bob, and Liam are best known for their work with Tommy Makem, recording dozens of albums together as The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. They were a primary influence on a young Bob Dylan and on many other emerging artists.
The release of their second album, this one of Irish drinking songs called "Come Fill Your Glass with Us", solidified their new careers as singers. The album was a success, and they made many appearances on the pub circuit in New York, Chicago, and Boston. It was at their first official gig after "Come Fill Your Glass With Us" that the group finally found a name for themselves. The nightclub owner asked for a name to put on the marquee, but they had not decided on one yet. Unable to agree on a name (which included suggestions like "The Beggermen", "The Tinkers", and even "The Chieftains") the owner decided for them, simply billing them as "The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem". The name stuck. They decided to try singing full-time for six months. If their singing was successful, they would continue with it; if not, then they would return to acting. The Clancy brothers and Tommy Makem proved successful as a singing group and in early 1961, they attracted the attention of scouts from The Ed Sullivan Show.
The Clancy Brothers' mother read news of the terrible ice and snow storms in New York City so she sent Aran sweaters for her sons and Tommy Makem to keep them warm. Paddy and Liam Clancy stated they wore the sweaters for the first time in the Blue Angel club. When Marty Erlichman, their manager, saw the sweaters, he was beside himself! "That's it!" he exclaimed. I've been looking for a special costume for the group. It was also the night that Barbra Streisand sang in the Blue Angel for the first time. The sweaters became the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem's trademark. When back in their hometown, the band purchased their Aran jumpers from Babington, on the main street. Babington had a local woman by the name of Betty McGillivray née Duggan knit the jumpers and supply the shop on regular occasions.
On 12 March 1961, the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem performed for 16 minutes in front of a televised audience of 80 million people on The Ed Sullivan Show. As Pearl Bailey did not show that night, the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem were given her time. The televised performance instantly attracted the attention of John Hammond of Columbia Records. The group was offered a five-year contract with an advance of $100,000, a huge sum in 1961. For their first album with Columbia, they enlisted Pete Seeger as backup banjo player for the live album A Spontaneous Performance Recording It included songs that would soon become classics, such as "Brennan on the Moor," "Jug of Punch," "Reilly's Daughter," "Finnegan's Wake," "Haul Away Joe," "Roddy McCorley," "Portlairge" and "Moonshiner." The album was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1961.
By the end of 1961, they had released two more albums, one final one with Tradition Records, and another with Columbia, Hearty and Hellish: A Live Nightclub Performance, and they were playing Carnegie Hall. Additionally, they were making appearances on major radio and television talk-shows in America.
1962 proved to be an even better year. Ciarán MacMathuna, a popular radio personality in Ireland, was visiting America when he heard of the group. He collected the few albums they had out at the time, brought them back home to Ireland and played them on his radio show. The broadcasts skyrocketed the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem to fame in Ireland, where they were still unknown. In Ireland, songs like "Roddy McCorley," "Kevin Barry" and "Brennan on the Moor" were slow, depressing songs full of melancholy, but the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem had transformed those songs (the disgruntled purists in Ireland said "commercialized") and made them lively. For generations the songs had been a reminder of the troubles in Ireland and therefore they weren't anything anybody sang proudly. The Clancy Brothers changed all that, and the transformed songs reinvigorated Ireland's pride in her music. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem were brought over for a sold-out tour of Ireland in late 1962. Popularity in England and other parts of Europe soon followed, as well as Australia and Canada. By 1963, appearing on major talk-shows in America, Canada, England, Australia and Ireland, as well as their own TV specials, the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem were "the most famous four Irishmen in the world" as said by Ireland's Late Late Show host, Gay Byrne, in a retrospective interview in 1984. In 1964, one third of all the albums sold in Ireland were Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem records.
The 1960s continued to be a successful decade with the release of approximately two albums per year, all of which sold millions of copies. They continued to peak with television appearances in front of President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
Their popularity is the result of several factors. There was already an American folk revival beginning in the United States, and men such as Ewan MacColl popularizing old songs on the other side of the Atlantic. But it was the Clancys' boisterous performances that set them apart, taking placid classics and giving them a boost of energy and spirit (not that they took this approach with all their songs; they would still sing the true mournful ballads with due reverence).
But by the late 1960s, rock music had taken full swing, and the ballad and folk boom was waning. To keep the band at the top, Teo Macero began producing their records for Columbia. Macero introduced new instrumentation to their music, including Louis Killen coming in to play concertina on backup, particularly on their 1968 album of sea songs, Sing of the Sea. But their last three albums for Columbia Record in 1969 and 1970 are considered by many to be overproduced, with a multitude of string instruments and synthesizers added to the simpler traditional Clancy mix of guitar, banjo, tin whistle and harmonica.
In 1969, the group recorded a song for a two-minute-long TV ad for Gulf Oil: "Bringin' Home the Oil". They adapted a traditional Scottish tune they had recorded, "The Gallant Forty Twa," with new words about large-capacity supertankers. The song and commercial featured the then-largest supertanker in the world, the Universe Ireland, which operated with sister ships Universe Kuwait, Universe Japan and Universe Portugal, all mentioned in the song and which operated from the seaport at Bantry Bay.
1969 marked the amicable departure of Tommy Makem from the group. Giving them a year's notice, Makem left in April 1969 to pursue a solo career armed with such recent compositions as "Four Green Fields", debuted on 1968's Clancy Brothers album, Home Boys Home.
The "other brother", Bobby Clancy, filled Tommy Makem's vacancy and the band became The Clancy Brothers.
Boulavogue
The Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(P.J.McCall)
At Boulavogue, as the sun was setting
O'er bright May meadows of Shelmalier,
A rebel hand set the heather blazing
And brought the neighbors from far and near.
Then Father Murphy, from old Kilcormack,
Spurred up the rocks with a warning cry;
For Ireland's freedom we fight or die."
He led us on 'gainst the coming soldiers,
The cowardly Yeomen we put to flight;
'Twas at the Harrow the boys of Wexford
Showed Bookey's regiment how men could fight.
Look out for hirelings, King George of England,
Search every kingdom where breathes a slave,
For Father Murphy of the County Wexford
Sweeps o'er the land like a mighty wave.
We took Camolin and Enniscorthy,
And Wexford storming drove out our foes;
'Twas at Slieve Coillte our pikes were reeking
With the crimson stream of the beaten yeos.
At Tubberneering and Ballyellis
Full many a Hessian lay in his gore;
Ah, Father Murphy, had aid come over,
The green flag floated from shore to shore!
At Vinegar Hill, o'er the pleasant Slaney,
Our heroes vainly stood back to back,
And the Yeos at Tullow took Father Murphy
And burned his body upon the rack.
God grant you glory, brave Father Murphy,
And open Heaven to all your men;
The cause that called you may call tomorrow
In another fight for the green again.
Recorded by Galvin, Clancys
Filename[ BOULVOGE
Play.exe BOULVOGE
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===DOCUMENT BOUNDARY===
The song "Boulavogue" tells the story of Father John Murphy and the Wexford Rebellion of 1798, which sought to overthrow British rule in Ireland. The song is set at Boulavogue, a town in County Wexford, where a rebel hand sets the heather ablaze to signal the start of the rebellion. Father Murphy, a Catholic priest from Kilcormack, rallies the locals to fight for Ireland's freedom. The song describes the battles fought by the rebels against the cowardly Yeomen, and their eventual defeat. It ends with a tribute to Father Murphy and his men, and a hope for another fight for the green again.
The first verse of the song sets the scene, describing the sun setting over bright meadows in May. The rebel hand setting the heather ablaze is a signal to gather the neighbors for the rebellion, which Father Murphy leads. The second verse describes the battles fought by the rebels against the Yeomen, including the brave fight at the Harrow. The third verse mentions the towns of Camolin, Enniscorthy, and Wexford, which were taken by the rebels, and the defeat of the Yeomen at Slieve Coillte.
The fourth verse warns King George of England to look out for his hirelings and mentions Father Murphy's sweeping leadership over the land. The fifth verse describes the battles at Tubberneering and Ballyellis, where many Hessians were killed, and the hope that aid had come over to help the rebels. The sixth verse mentions Vinegar Hill and the defeat of the rebels there, with Father Murphy being captured and burned on a rack by the Yeomen. The song ends with a tribute to Father Murphy and his men, with a hope for another fight for the green again.
Overall, the song is a stirring tribute to the rebellion and the brave men who fought for Ireland's freedom. It highlights the bravery of Father Murphy and his leadership of the rebels, as well as the sacrifices made in the pursuit of independence.
Line by Line Meaning
At Boulavogue, as the sun was setting
The song sets up the scene at Boulavogue, where the sun is setting.
O'er bright May meadows of Shelmalier,
The sun is setting over the picturesque meadows of Shelmalier during the month of May.
A rebel hand set the heather blazing
The rebels start a fire on the heather to signal for help.
And brought the neighbors from far and near.
The fire brought the neighboring townspeople to gather at Boulavogue.
Then Father Murphy, from old Kilcormack,
Father Murphy, from Kilcormack, appeared at Boulavogue.
Spurred up the rocks with a warning cry;
Father Murphy emerged, warning the people of the imminent danger and urged them to take up arms.
"Arm! Arm!" he cried, "for I've come to lead you,
Father Murphy encourages the people to arm themselves and is ready to lead them in the fight against oppression.
For Ireland's freedom we fight or die."
The cause they are fighting for is Ireland's freedom, which they are willing to die for.
He led us on 'gainst the coming soldiers,
Father Murphy led the group against the incoming soldiers.
The cowardly Yeomen we put to flight;
The brave rebels managed to defeat the cowardly Yeomen.
'Twas at the Harrow the boys of Wexford
The battle took place at the Harrow, where the boys of Wexford fought valiantly.
Showed Bookey's regiment how men could fight.
They put up a good fight against Bookey's regiment, gaining recognition for their strength.
Look out for hirelings, King George of England,
King George of England is warned to look out for anyone who may be tempted to betray for financial gain.
Search every kingdom where breathes a slave,
King George of England is advised to search every kingdom where slaves can be found to prevent any potential betrayal.
For Father Murphy of the County Wexford
Father Murphy, who is from County Wexford, is leading a significant rebellion across the land.
Sweeps o'er the land like a mighty wave.
Father Murphy and his movement are gaining momentum and spreading like a powerful wave.
We took Camolin and Enniscorthy,
The rebels were successful in taking control of two towns, Camolin and Enniscorthy.
And Wexford storming drove out our foes;
The rebels succeeded in driving their foes out of Wexford amidst the storming and fighting.
'Twas at Slieve Coillte our pikes were reeking
The battle was fought at Slieve Coillte, where the rebels emerged victorious and their pikes were bloodied.
With the crimson stream of the beaten yeos.
The defeated Yeomen bled, symbolized by the crimson stream on the rebels' pikes.
At Tubberneering and Ballyellis
The rebels also succeeded in defeating their foes in the towns of Tubberneering and Ballyellis.
Full many a Hessian lay in his gore;
Many Hessians - German soldiers hired by the British - were killed and lay in their own blood.
Ah, Father Murphy, had aid come over,
If only Father Murphy had received some help from allies, the fight for freedom would have been easier.
The green flag floated from shore to shore!
The struggle for Ireland's freedom would have achieved greater success and ultimately the green flag would have flown across the land.
At Vinegar Hill, o'er the pleasant Slaney,
The final battle took place at Vinegar Hill with a view of the pleasant Slaney river.
Our heroes vainly stood back to back,
The rebels fought heroically but were eventually defeated.
And the Yeos at Tullow took Father Murphy
Father Murphy was captured by the Yeomen at Tullow.
And burned his body upon the rack.
Father Murphy was tortured and burned alive.
God grant you glory, brave Father Murphy,
The song eulogizes Father Murphy and asks for God's blessings upon him.
And open Heaven to all your men;
The song also asks for God to welcome all the men who fought for Ireland's freedom into heaven.
The cause that called you may call tomorrow
The song reminds the listeners that the struggle for freedom has not ended and the cause may still arise tomorrow.
In another fight for the green again.
They may have to fight another battle for the elusive green flag, which represents Ireland's independence.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BARNEY MCKENNA, CIARAN PADRAIG MAIRE BOURKE, JOHN EDMUND SHEAHAN, LUKE KELLY, RONALD JOSEPH DREW, DP, Barney Mackenna, Ciaran Bourke, John Sheehan, Ronald Drew
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