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.
McAlpine's Fusiliers
The Dubliners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With their shovels slung behind them
'Twas in the pub they drank the sub
And up in the spike you'll find them
They sweated blood and they washed down mud
With pints and quarts of beer
And now we're on the road again
I stripped to the skin with Darky Finn
Way down upon the Isle of Grain
With the Horseface Toole then I knew the rule
No money if you stop for rain
McAlpine's God was a well filled hod
Your shoulders cut to bits and seared
And woe to he who to looks for tea
With McAlpine's fusiliers
I remember the day that the Bear O'Shea
Fell into a concrete stairs
What the Horseface said, when he saw him dead
Well, it wasn't what the rich call prayers
I'm a navvy short was the one retort
That reached unto my ears
When the going is rough, well you must be tough
With McAlpine's fusiliers
I've worked 'till the sweat has had me bet
With Russian, Czech and Pole
On shuddering jams up in the hydro dams
Or underneath the Thames in a hole
I grafted hard and I've got me cards
And many a ganger's fist across me ears
If you pride your life, don't join by Christ
With McAlpine's fusiliers
The Dubliners's McAlpine's Fusiliers is a song that tells the story of the physical and emotional challenges navvies faced while building roads, bridges, and infrastructure. It transports the listeners back to the time when hard manual labor formed the backbone of the construction industry. The first verse of the song talks about a group of workmen who are beginning their day's work in good spirits. They wash down mud and sweat with pints and quarts of beer, a reminder that alcohol was frequently used by the workers to alleviate the discomfort and pain associated with their grueling jobs. The second verse, on the contrary, is about the leaders who are exploiting their laborers. They treat their workers as nothing more than machines, and when they inevitably break down, they are unceremoniously replaced. The verse that follows talks about a single fatal incident that occurred on a McAlpine construction site. The last verse implores the listener not to get involved with this type of work or walk away from it if one has, urging them to value their life.
Line by Line Meaning
As down the glen came McAlpine's men
McAlpine's work crew walked down the valley
With their shovels slung behind them
They had shovels hanging on their backs
'Twas in the pub they drank the sub
McAlpine's men drank their compensation in a bar
And up in the spike you'll find them
They could be found sleeping in the workhouse for the night
They sweated blood and they washed down mud
They worked tremendously hard and drank beer to refresh themselves
With pints and quarts of beer
They drank many large glasses of beer
And now we're on the road again
They are traveling to the next job site
With McAlpine's fusiliers
McAlpine's employees are with them
I stripped to the skin with Darky Flynn
I worked shirtless with Darky Flynn
Way down upon the Isle of Grain
This location was on the Isle of Grain
With the Horseface Toole then I knew the rule
Horseface Toole taught me the following lesson
No money if you stop for rain
You won't get paid if you pause work because of rain
McAlpine's God was a well filled hod
McAlpine's main priority was a hod filled with material
Your shoulders cut to bits and seared
The weight of the material caused your shoulders to feel pain
And woe to he who to looks for tea
Anyone hoping for a tea break will be disappointed
With McAlpine's fusiliers
This work style is only for McAlpine's staff
I remember the day that the Bear O'Shea
I have a clear memory of the day when Bear O'Shea
Fell into a concrete stairs
Tripped and fell onto the concrete staircase
What the Horseface said, when he saw him dead
Horseface's response to Bear O'Shea's death
Well, it wasn't what the rich call prayers
Horseface's response was not a religious prayer as used by wealthy people
I'm a navvy short was the one retort
When someone inquires about Bear O'Shea, the answer received is
That reached unto my ears
This is the message I heard
When the going is rough, well you must be tough
If there are hardships, one must be resilient
With McAlpine's fusiliers
This is only for McAlpine's staff
I've worked 'till the sweat has had me bet
I have worked incredibly hard until my sweat had me exhausted
With Russian, Czech and Pole
I worked alongside laborers from Russia, Czech Republic, and Poland
On shuddering jams up in the hydro dams
I worked on unstable material in hydroelectric dams
Or underneath the Thames in a hole
I worked in the excavated pits beneath the Thames River
I grafted hard and I've got me cards
I worked with dedication and earned my credentials
And many a ganger's fist across me ears
I've been punched by many angry supervisors
If you pride your life, don't join by Christ
If you value your life, do not take this profession
With McAlpine's fusiliers
This type of labor only exists among McAlpine's staff
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ronald Joseph Drew, Barney McKenna, John Edmund Sheehan, Luke Kelly, Ciaran Bourke, Robert Lynch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jimkennedy7385
Great song from Ronnie and always reminds me of my old dad Michael Kennedy (Sligo) He worked for Wimpeys on the construction of London Airport where he met my mother Mary Whelan (Cork) who ran a food and tea van for the workers. The Irish rebuilt London after the war with their hard labour and resilience. I worked on a McAlpine job myself in the seventies and met many great old Irish workers who were the subject of this great song. When the going gets rough call in the Irish. ☘️
@Zurzi
Brilliant
@eoinfitzpatrick7830
Was mcalpine as bad as the say
@user-hd8fj2mb5p
Wonderful band. Wonderful characters. How we miss them. ❤
@johnallright6847
Great music from a rare band of true musicians.
@oldmate1342
"If you pride your life, don't join BY CHRIST, with McAlpines Fusiliers" So good
@jamesmcmenamin-yz8ti
A superb band, and one of there best song. 👍
@ValdemarC4005
Jeez Mckenna goes insanemode on his banjo in this version💥🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪
@Domitianvs
That was just his default setting. Thankfully I got to see him live before he passed, and I'll always remember him shuffling on stage and then just playing the absolute hell out of that banjo!
@oscaraiken5484
I was just thinking how insane the banjo sounds.