The Dubliners started off in O'Donoghue's pub in Dublin in 1962 under the name of "the Ronnie Drew Folk Group". Then they were four, Ronnie Drew (vocals and guitar), Luke Kelly (vocals and 5-string banjo), Barney McKenna (tenor banjo, mandolin, melodeon and vocals) and Ciarán Bourke (vocals, guitar, tin whistle and harmonica). In 1963, they played at the Edinburgh festival where they met the head of Transatlantic Records, Nathan Joseph, for whom they started recording. In 1964, Luke Kelly left, and Bobby Lynch (vocals and guitar) and John Sheahan (fiddle, tin whistle, mandolin, concertina, guitar and vocals) were added. When Luke Kelly returned and Bobby Lynch left in 1965, we have what is considered as the original Dubliners, five individualists, five men whose talents were mixed together in a superb blend and just wanted to play and have a good craic. If they only knew what was awaiting them!
In 1967 their major breakthrough came as a result of a coincidence. Their song, "Seven Drunken Nights" which was recorded in one take, was snapped up by a pirate radio station which started playing it along with the Beatles, the Mamas & the Papas, the Who, the Kinks and Jimi Hendrix. Suddenly, The Dubliners was a major band, playing all over the world, getting into the charts, and receiving gold discs. Not what you expected from a bunch of hairy people who "looked like they'd just been dragged out of a seedy bar via a hedge(backwards) and dropped on London from a very great height".(Colin Irwin in the reissue of "Live at the Albert Hall")
The seventies started like the sixties ended; wild touring, drinking, playing. They started doing regular tours, and they were still recording, of course. Then, in 1974, Ciarán Bourke collapsed on stage with a brain haemmorrage, which eventually led to his death. He first, though, recovered remarkably , and was back on stage with The Dubliners, but collapsed again. At the same time, Ronnie decided to take a break, and Jim McCann took his and Ciaráns place in the group.
In 1979, Ronnie decided to make a comeback as a member of the group, although he probably never really left it. In the five years, he had recorded two solo albums, and The Dubliners three albums. With Ronnie returning, Jim left, and The Dubs were almost back where they started. Then Luke Kelly became ill, he collapsed on stage with a brain tumour, for which he received surgery several times. He too, made remarkable recoveries, and went on touring with the Dubliners, at the same time continuing his wild and unhealthy lifestyle. Seán Cannon, a long time friend, stepped in for Luke, when he couldn't be on stage. Seáns appearence wasn't that well received by the audiences at the beginning, but he has later turned out to be an important addition to The Dubliners, and their repertoir. In 1984, Luke Kelly died, but The Dubliners, now with Seán Cannon as a member, decided to keep on.
1987 turned out to be one of the best - and busiest - years for the Dubliners. Their long time friend, and guest musician, Eamonn Campbell (29 November 1946 – 18 October 2017), brought the group together with the Pogues on the hit single the Irish Rover. This single took the Dubliners back to the charts, and also gave them a completely new audience; people who weren't even born when The Dubliners started off. And with Dublin celebrating its milennium in 1988, The Dubliners also received more attention than for years. Eamonn Campbell joined them on regular basis, a move which has turned out to be one of the most important in their history. In 1988 Ciarán Bourke died, after years of pain and difficulties. He always was, and still is very much remembered by The Dubliners, just like Luke Kelly is.
The eighties finished off with rumours that The Dubliners were to retire, probably something that's always been following the group. However, they didn't, and celebrated their 30th anniversary in 1992, with a double cd and extensive tour. The nineties have later brought a tour video from the German tour 1995, and the "shock" news that Ronnie Drew was leaving. He left in December 1995, after releasing a superb album, "Dirty Rotten Shame" a few months earlier.
Now, even the most optimistic Dubliners fans thought it was the end, but the remaindours decided to convince Paddy Reilly to join them, and they continued their busy touring and recording schedule. This move has also turned out to be excellent. Paddy, not very well known in Europe, had never been touring there, so he too enjoyed the experience, as well as being part of a band. He still, though, does tours in the USA in the winter and summermonths.
2002, they temporarily reunited with Ronnie Drew and Jim McCann, for their 40th anniversary tour. They made a string of appearances on Irish television throughout this time, including a memorable appearance with Phil Coulter and George Murphy on RTÉ 1.
After the tour, Jim McCann was diagnosed with throat cancer and, though he fully recovered, his voice was severely damaged, and he has not been able to sing since his illness
In 2005, Paddy Reilly moved to the United States, and Patsy Watchorn joined the group. Watchorn made a name for himself with The Dublin City Ramblers; like Kelly, he accompanies his songs on the five-string banjo.
The band toured Europe every year. A planned tour of Denmark two weeks after the death of McKenna on 5 April 2012 went ahead as planned. From the first show in Copenhagen on 18 April onwards he was replaced by the Irish banjo player Gerry O'Connor.
The band celebrated their 50th anniversary with an extensive year-long European tour and the release of a live DVD recorded live at Dublin's Vicar Street.
In the fall of 2012 the band announced their retirement, effective after their 50th anniversary shows at the end of the year. The Dubliners played the final shows at Vicar Street in Dublin on 28/29/30 December 2012 the band were joined by former band member Jim McCann.
The band made their final TV appearence in the UK on the BBC's New Year's Eve edition of Jools Holland Annual Hootenanny' on 31 December. Their last public appearance as the Dubliners was on 27 January 2013 in memory of Barney McKenna. The remaining members Sean Cannon, Eamonn Campbell, Patsy Watchorn and Gerry O'Connor continue to tour Europe in 2013/14.
People probably don't recognize what The Dubliners have meant to the world of music. By the way, not only the world of music, but the world as a whole. They have first of all paved the way for dozens of bands from Ireland and Scotland, like the Chieftains, the Pogues, U2, Ossian, the Fureys and so on. The number of artists that list The Dubliners as one of their major influences and idols, is endless. They have brought folk music to millions of people all over the world, people who never would have been interested at all. That isn't only because of the folk music, the instrumentals alone, it's because of The Dubliners, their astonishing voices, their undescribable instrumentals, the wild life style and drinking, late sessions, their enormous beards, their extensive touring, their charisma and characters. It was, and still is to a certain extent, a blend the world will never see again.
The Dubliners have brought Ireland to the world in a way that no emigration has, they have brought the world to Ireland, and they have brought people all over the world closer together. Whenever it ends, the world will never be the same again.
James Larkin
The Dubliners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The boss was rich and the poor were slaves
The women working and children starving
Then on came Larkin like a mighty wave
The workers cringed when the boss man thundered
Seventy hours was his weekly chore
He asked for little and less was granted
Lest given little then he'd ask for more
In the month of August the boss man told us
No union man for him could work
We stood by Larkin and told the boss man
We'd fight or die, but we wouldn't shirk
Eight months we fought and eight months we starved
We stood by Larkin through thick and thin
But foodless homes and the crying of children
It broke our hearts, we just couldn't win
Then Larkin left us, we seemed defeated
The night was black for the working man
But on came Connolly with new hope and counsel
His motto was that we'd rise again
In nineteen sixteen in Dublin City
The English soldiers they burnt our town
The shelled our buildings and shot our leaders
The Harp was buried 'neath the bloody crown
They shot McDermott and Pearse and Plunkett
They shot McDonagh and Clarke the brave
From bleak Kilmainham they took Ceannt's body
To Arbour Hill and a quicklime grave
But last of all of the seven heroes
I sing the praise of James Connolly
The voice of justice, the voice of freedom
He gave his life, that man might be free
The Dubliners’ song “James Larkin” tells of the events of 1913 in Dublin, Ireland. The city was divided economically with the rich bosses versus the poor workers. The boss man demanded seventy weekly working hours from the workers without giving them appropriate compensation. Larkin arrived on the scene like a “mighty wave” and became the workers’ leader. He demanded what was owed to the workers and stood up against the bosses. In response, the boss man said no union man could work for him. The workers refused to succumb to this threat and eight months of fighting and starving commenced. Larkin left the workers defeated and all seemed lost, until James Connolly stepped in with new hope and counsel, declaring that the working man will rise again.
The song also speaks about the events of 1916, where English soldiers burnt down Dublin City, shelled their buildings, and shot their leaders. The heroes of the rebellion were executed, including McDermott, Pearse, Plunkett, McDonagh, Clarke, and Ceannt. The song, however, finishes on a positive note by mentioning the “voice of justice, the voice of freedom,” James Connolly, who gave his life for the liberation of his people.
Line by Line Meaning
In Dublin City in nineteen thirteen
The city of Dublin in the year 1913
The boss was rich and the poor were slaves
The wealthy rulers oppressed and controlled the poorer citizens
The women working and children starving
Women were forced to work, while children were left to suffer from hunger
Then on came Larkin like a mighty wave
James Larkin arrived with a forceful presence
The workers cringed when the boss man thundered
The workers feared their boss's angry outbursts
Seventy hours was his weekly chore
The boss required his workers to work 70 hours per week as their duty
He asked for little and less was granted
The workers requested few things, yet they were given even less than what they asked for
Lest given little then he'd ask for more
If only given little, Larkin would demand even more
In the month of August the boss man told us
During the month of August, the boss declared that no union worker was allowed to work
No union man for him could work
He did not want any worker associated with a union to work for him
We stood by Larkin and told the boss man
The workers supported Larkin and stood up to the boss
We'd fight or die, but we wouldn't shirk
They were willing to fight to the death rather than back down
Eight months we fought and eight months we starved
The workers fought and starved for eight months
We stood by Larkin through thick and thin
They were loyal to Larkin through both good and bad times
But foodless homes and the crying of children
The workers suffered hunger and sorrowful sounds from their children
It broke our hearts, we just couldn't win
The situation was emotionally devastating and they were unable to achieve victory
Then Larkin left us, we seemed defeated
When Larkin departed, the workers felt hopeless and defeated
The night was black for the working man
The working class was in a state of despair and uncertainty
But on came Connolly with new hope and counsel
Then James Connolly brought new optimism and advice
His motto was that we'd rise again
He believed that they could and would overcome their struggles
In nineteen sixteen in Dublin City
During the year 1916 in Dublin City
The English soldiers they burnt our town
English soldiers burned down their town
The shelled our buildings and shot our leaders
They destroyed buildings and killed their leaders
The Harp was buried 'neath the bloody crown
Ireland's symbol of the harp was buried beneath the English crown soaked in blood
They shot McDermott and Pearse and Plunkett
The English soldiers shot and killed McDermott, Pearse, and Plunkett
They shot McDonagh and Clarke the brave
They also killed McDonagh and Clarke
From bleak Kilmainham they took Ceannt's body
They took Ceannt's body from the gloomy Kilmainham jail
To Arbour Hill and a quicklime grave
They buried him in a mass grave in Arbour Hill using quicklime to decompose the bodies
But last of all of the seven heroes
The last of the seven heroes was
I sing the praise of James Connolly
I celebrate and admire James Connolly
The voice of justice, the voice of freedom
Connolly was a champion for justice and freedom
He gave his life, that man might be free
He sacrificed his life for the cause of freedom for mankind.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cynicaldrummer2608
in Dublin city , in 1913,
the boss was rich and the poor were slaves.
the women working and children starving.
and on came Larkin, like a mighty wave.
the workers cringed when the boss man pondered,
70 hours was his weekly chore.
he asked for little and less was granted,
lest gettin' little then he'd ask for more .
in the month of august, the boss man told us,
no union man for him could work,
we stood by Larkin, and told the boss man,
we'd fight or die but we wouldn't shirk.
8 months we fought and 8 months we starved,
we stood by Larkin through thick and thin.
but foodless homes and the crying of children ,
it broke out hearts ,
we just couldn't win .
then Larkin left us , we seemed defeated ,
the night was black, for the working man ,
but on came Connelly, with new hope and counsel,
his moto was , that'd we'd rise again.
In 1916, in Dublin City ,
the English soldiers , they burned our town,
they shelled our buildings and shot our leaders,
The harp was buried beneath the bloody crown.
they shot McDermott, and Pearse and Plunkett,
they shot MacDonagh and Clarke the brave,
from bleak Kilmainham they took their bodies ,
to Arbour hill and the quick line grave.
but last of all of the 7 heroes,
ill sing the praise of James Connelly ,
the voice of Justice and the voice of freedom,
he gave his life that men might be free.
Sorry for any incorrect transcriptions.
@urszalucullus8387
Music is a wonderful way of "teaching" people history. I have never heard about James Larkin before I looked up the name (because I listened to the song). I am not from Ireland, so I guess it's not surprising that I never heard of him in History Lessons, but songs like this inspire people to look something up.
@manum8300
Then listen and read about James Connolly.
@olelukje3928
I learned from the Dubliners’s songs more of Ireland’s history than I learned from any other source))) I’m not Irish too.
@MastersOfPhysics
James Larkin was my great great Grandfather, good to see the appreciation!
@lynnkelly6190
my gran aunt was a Jacob's worker who did 3 months during the LOCKOUT, n a gun runner during the RISING
@tackofall6856
He was my great great great uncle guess we’re cousins lol
@JacobMA52
He’s my great great uncle! I think we’re related!
@MrCostas32
a great man
@sentimentaloldme
This ballad was written by Donagh MacDonagh son of Thomas MacDonagh (who was executed by crown forces in 1916)..."Those in power write the history. Those who suffer write the songs"
@mr.rattlebones6316
Whether Scouser or Irishman this man should be a Hero to all working men and women.