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.
Kelly The Boy From Killanne
The Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's the news? What's the news? O my bold Shelmalier,
With your long-barrelled gun, of the sea?
Say, what wind from the sun blows his messenger here
With a hymn of the dawn for the free?
"Goodly news, goodly news, do I bring, youth of Forth,
Goodly news do I bring, Bargy man!
For the boys march at dawn from the south to the north
Tell me who is the giant with the gold curling hair,
He who rides at the head of the band?
Seven feet is his height, with some inches to spare
And he looks like a king in command!
"Oh, me boys, that's the pride of the bold Shelmaliers,
"Mongst our greatest of heroes, a man!
Fling your beavers aloft and give three rousing cheers,
For John Kelly, the boy from Killanne!"
Enniscorthy's in flames, and old Wexford is won,
And the Barrow tomorrow we cross.
On a hill o'er the town we have planted a gun
That will batter the gateways to Ross!
All the Forth men and Bargy men march over the heath
With brave Harvey to lead on the van;
But the foremost of all in that grim gap of death
Will be Kelly, the boy from Killanne!
But the gold sun of freedom grew darkened at Ross
And it set by the Slaney's red waves;
And poor Wexford, stript naked, hung high on a cross
With her heart pierced by traitors and slaves!
Glory O! Glory O! to her brave sons who died
For the cause of long-down-trodden man!
Glory O! to mount Leinster's own darling and pride:
Dauntless Kelly, the boy from Killanne!
Recorded by Clancys, Patrick Galvin
Filename[ KELLYKIL
Play.exe KELLYKIL
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===DOCUMENT BOUNDARY===
The Clancy Brothers's song "Kelly the Boy from Killanne" describes the bravery and heroism of John Kelly, a young man from the small town of Killanne, in County Wexford, Ireland. The song opens with an inquiry about Kelly's whereabouts and the news he brings. The messenger informs the listener that Kelly is leading a group of men from the south to the north with the intention of freeing Ireland from British rule. The lyrics praise Kelly's physical appearance, his height, and his ability to lead the group with confidence and strength.
The second part of the song discusses the subsequent battles fought by the Irish rebels, including the burning of Enniscorthy, the capture of Wexford, and the planting of a gun to prepare for the attack at Ross. The song emphasizes the bravery and courage of Kelly, who was the first to enter the "grim gap of death" and lead the charge against the British army. However, despite their valiant efforts, the Irish were ultimately defeated in the battle of Ross, and the "gold sun of freedom grew darkened at Ross."
The song ends with a tribute to the martyrs of the Irish rebellion and a particular acknowledgment of Kelly, who is described as "mount Leinster's own darling and pride: Dauntless Kelly, the boy from Killanne!"
Line by Line Meaning
Kelly, The Boy from Killanne
This song is about John Kelly, a heroic figure from Killanne, who led the rebellion against the British in Wexford.
What's the news? What's the news? O my bold Shelmalier, With your long-barrelled gun, of the sea?
The singer is asking a member of the Shelmalier rebels about the latest news regarding the rebellion, as he is confident in their abilities with their weapons.
Say, what wind from the sun blows his messenger here With a hymn of the dawn for the free?
The singer is asking what caused the messenger to bring good news, as if it came from a divine source.
"Goodly news, goodly news, do I bring, youth of Forth, Goodly news do I bring, Bargy man!
The messenger announces good news to the rebels from Forth and Bargy, as the boys march at dawn to fight for their freedom.
For the boys march at dawn from the south to the north Led by Kelly, the boy from Killanne!"
John Kelly is leading the rebels from Killanne as they march towards the northern part of the country to continue their fight for freedom.
Tell me who is the giant with the gold curling hair, He who rides at the head of the band?
The singer is asking about the leader of the rebels, who is described as a giant with golden hair, leading the charge for their cause.
Seven feet is his height, with some inches to spare And he looks like a king in command!
The leader is described as a commanding figure, standing at seven feet tall, with a presence like that of a king.
"Oh, me boys, that's the pride of the bold Shelmaliers, "Mongst our greatest of heroes, a man!
The leader is a member of the Shelmalier rebels, and is highly respected as one of the greatest heroes of the rebellion.
Fling your beavers aloft and give three rousing cheers, For John Kelly, the boy from Killanne!"
The singer encourages the rebels to cheer for John Kelly, their leader from Killanne, who is leading the charge in the fight for freedom.
Enniscorthy's in flames, and old Wexford is won, And the Barrow tomorrow we cross.
The rebels have captured Wexford and are moving towards the Barrow river. Enniscorthy has also been set on fire as a sign of their rebellion.
On a hill o'er the town we have planted a gun That will batter the gateways to Ross!
The rebels have positioned a large cannon overlooking the town, which will be used to break down the walls of Ross, a fortification held by the British.
All the Forth men and Bargy men march over the heath With brave Harvey to lead on the van;
The rebels from Forth and Bargy are marching together on the heath, with the brave Harvey leading the vanguard.
But the foremost of all in that grim gap of death Will be Kelly, the boy from Killanne!
John Kelly is leading the way in the most dangerous part of the battle, with the greatest chance of danger and death.
But the gold sun of freedom grew darkened at Ross And it set by the Slaney's red waves;
Despite the efforts of the rebels, they were ultimately defeated at Ross and the dream of freedom was destroyed by the British. The river Slaney is said to have turned red with the blood of the fallen rebels.
And poor Wexford, stript naked, hung high on a cross With her heart pierced by traitors and slaves!
The people of Wexford were betrayed and executed by other Irishmen who sided with the British, leading to their public execution and a symbol of their humiliation on a cross.
Glory O! Glory O! to her brave sons who died For the cause of long-down-trodden man!
The singer honors the brave sons of Wexford who died for the greater cause of freedom for all people who have been oppressed by others.
Glory O! to mount Leinster's own darling and pride: Dauntless Kelly, the boy from Killanne!
The song ends with a final call out to John Kelly, who is honored as a hero and a symbol of the fight for freedom that was ultimately lost but not forgotten.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Yverian
God how I love songs about heroes, and this is one of the best, and sung by the best singers as well. God bless Ireland!
@goofy79248
Heavydagger I Totally so Agreeqith Your kindly words!!
@otakubullfrog1665
Some of the best Irish voices that ever were.
@erracht
They were the very voice of leprechauns.
@JeffMinde
My grandfather from Ballycullane taught me this song. And it is indeed about the Rebellion of 1798 in Wexford.
@timothyhyde
A brilliant song sung by some timeless, good men. Long live the legacy!
@barbarapalmer8224
We must never forget our brave heroes....
@DINKY77142
This was on my grandmother's GIANT record player.. always.. My fave.
@mvl6827
That’s what I call music talent and performance all in one
@winifredfaloona
Glorious!!!!