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.
Monto
The Dubliners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the waxies sing-o all the day.
If you've had your fill of porter and you can't go any
Further
Just give your men the order, "Back to the quay"
And take her up to Monto, Monto, Monto
Take her up to Monto langeroo! To you
Well you've heard of Butcher Foster, the dirty old
Imposter
He took his mot and lost her up in Furry Glen
He first put on his bowler, then he buttoned up his
Trousers
And he whistled for a growler and he said "My men"
And take me up to Monto, Monto, Monto
Take me up to Monto langeroo! To you
Well you've heard of the Dublin Fusiliers, the dirty
Old bamboozaliers
They went and got the childer, one, two, three
Marchin' from the Linen Hall, there's one for every
Cannon ball
And Vicky's goin' to send youse all o'er the sea
But First go up to Monto, Monto, Monto
First go up to Monto langeroo! To you
Well Carry told him, "Skin the goat"; O'Donnell put him
On the boat
He never should have been afloat, the dirty skite
It wasn't very sensible to tell on the Invincibles
They stood up for the principals, day and night
They're goin' up to Monto, Monto, Monto
Goin' up to Monto langeroo! To you
Now the czar of Russia, and the king of Prussia
Landed in the Phoenix in a big balloon
They asked the Police band to play the "The wearin' o'
The Green"
But the buggers in the depot didn't know the tune
So they all went up to Monto, Monto, Monto
They all went up to Monto langeroo! To you
The Queen she came to call on us, she wanted to see all
Of us,
I'm glad she didn't fall on us, she's eighteen stone
Well "Mr. Neill, Lord Mayor", says she, "Is this all
You've got to show to me?"
"why no ma'am, there's some more to see ? p?g mo thoin
And he took her up to Monto, Monto, Monto
He took her up to Monto, langeroo! To you
Well if you've got a wingo, take her up to Ringo
Where the waxies sing-o all the day.
If you've had your fill of porter and you can't go any
Further
Just give your men the order, "Back to the quay"
And take her up to Monto, Monto, Monto
Take her up to Monto langeroo! To you
The Dubliners’ song “Monto” paints a vivid picture of the infamous red-light district, Montgomery Street, in Dublin during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The song begins with a suggestion to take a lady to Ringo, where one can hear the waxies sing-o all day. If one has had enough porter and wants to go back to the quay, they should take their lady to Monto. The song then tells the story of various characters of Monto, such as Butcher Foster, the dirty old imposter who lost his wife up in Furry Glen. The Dublin Fusiliers are also mentioned, who went and got the children, one, two, three, marching from the Linen Hall, and Vicky's going to send them all over the sea.
As the song progresses, the lyrics mention the Invincibles, who stood up for the principals, day and night. The czar of Russia and the king of Prussia land in Phoenix Park in a big balloon and ask the Police Band to play “The Wearing of the Green,” but the buggers in the depot didn't know the tune, and everyone goes to Monto instead. The Queen comes to visit and wants to see all of Monto. Mr. Neill, the Lord Mayor, takes the Queen to Monto, and the song ends with a repetition of the refrain “Take her up to Monto langeroo! To you.”
Line by Line Meaning
Oh if you've got a wingo, take her up to Ringo
Where the waxies sing-o all the day.
If you have a girl, take her to Ringo's place where people sing all day long
If you've had your fill of porter and you can't go any
Further
Just give your men the order, "Back to the quay"
If you have had enough of porter, order your men to go back to the port
And take her up to Monto, Monto, Monto
Take her up to Monto langeroo! To you
Take your girl up to Monto and sing along
Well you've heard of Butcher Foster, the dirty old
Imposter
He took his mot and lost her up in Furry Glen
He first put on his bowler, then he buttoned up his
Trousers
And he whistled for a growler and he said "My men"
Butcher Foster is a notorious liar who lost his wife in Furry Glen. He dressed up neatly and called for his men
Well you've heard of the Dublin Fusiliers, the dirty
Old bamboozaliers
They went and got the childer, one, two, three
Marchin' from the Linen Hall, there's one for every
Cannon ball
And Vicky's goin' to send youse all o'er the sea
Dublin Fusiliers are deceitful people who took children in their procession from Linen Hall. Queen Victoria sent them to war
But First go up to Monto, Monto, Monto
First go up to Monto langeroo! To you
Before going to the war, make sure to visit Monto
Well Carry told him, "Skin the goat"; O'Donnell put him
On the boat
He never should have been afloat, the dirty skite
It wasn't very sensible to tell on the Invincibles
They stood up for the principals, day and night
Carry and O'Donnell plotted and sent a traitor on a boat. The traitor betrayed the Invincibles, who stood for their principles day and night
They're goin' up to Monto, Monto, Monto
Goin' up to Monto langeroo! To you
The Invincibles are also going to Monto
Now the czar of Russia, and the king of Prussia
Landed in the Phoenix in a big balloon
They asked the Police band to play the "The wearin' o'
The Green"
But the buggers in the depot didn't know the tune
Czar of Russia and King of Prussia landed in Phoenix in a balloon and asked the police band to play 'The wearing of the Green,' but the band didn't know the tune
So they all went up to Monto, Monto, Monto
They all went up to Monto langeroo! To you
Everyone went up to Monto
The Queen she came to call on us, she wanted to see all
Of us,
I'm glad she didn't fall on us, she's eighteen stone
Well "Mr. Neill, Lord Mayor", says she, "Is this all
You've got to show to me?"
"why no ma'am, there's some more to see ? p?g mo thoin
The Queen visited and wanted to see everyone. Luckily she didn't fall, as she weighed 18 stone. The Lord Mayor showed her around and joked there is more to see
And take her up to Monto, Monto, Monto
Take her up to Monto langeroo! To you
Take your girl to Monto and enjoy the music
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BARNEY MCKENNA, CIARAN PADRAIG MAIRE BOURKE, JOHN EDMUND SHEAHAN, LUKE KELLY, RONALD JOSEPH DREW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mikko Monto
Sometimes when you look up your last name on Youtube, you'll find a raunchy song about an old Irish red light district.
The Dubliners
Brilliant!
Jamie Corrigan
YOU SHOULD FIND 'THE PAPER WORK' YOU MAY OWN IT STILL !!!
Kathryn Landry
Thank you so much, Kelly. I’ll never get tired of listening to Luke Kelly and the Dubliners. They were such a great bunch!!💚💚☘️☘️
baycast
Luke so happy singing this one! Just love all these guys. Ageless they are!
Alexander Joughin
Love how they give a background story to each song.
Baileathacliath24
What a voice 💪🇮🇪
Alphonce
my dad used to always play this video on the TV
i need to play it for him now
Horus Lupercal
God bless you.
Jérôme Orsoni
Your father was a good man.