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.
On Raglan Road
The Dubliners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I saw her first and knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare
That I might one day rue
I saw the danger, yet I passed
Along the enchanted way
And I said, "Let grief be a falling leaf
At the dawning of the day"
We tripped lightly along the ledge
Of a deep ravine where can be seen
The worth of passions pledged
The 'Queen of Hearts' still making tarts
And I not making hay
Oh, I loved too much and by such, by such
Is happiness thrown away
I gave her gifts of the mind
I gave her the secret sign
That's known to the artists who have known
The true gods of sound and stone
And word and tint I did not stint
For I gave her poems to say
With her own name there and her own dark hair
Like clouds over fields of May
On a quiet street where old ghosts meet
I see her walking now
Away from me so hurriedly
My reason must allow
That I had loved not as I should
A creature made of clay
When the angel woos the clay
He'll lose his wings at dawn of day
The Dubliners' song "On Raglan Road" is a haunting ballad that tells the story of a young man who sees a beautiful woman on Raglan Road on an autumn day. The man knows immediately that he is in danger of falling for her, but he cannot resist her dark hair and enchanting beauty. Despite the danger, he continues down the "enchanting way" and decides that he will suffer the consequences of his decision.
Later in the song, the singer reminisces about walking with the woman on Grafton Street in November. Even though he was deeply in love with her, he knew that he had not loved her as he should have. He gave her "gifts of the mind" and shared with her the secrets of the true gods of sound and stone. However, he "did not stint" in his gift-giving and gave her poems with her own name and dark hair, like clouds over fields of May. But, in the end, he realizes that he had loved a creature made of clay, and when the angel woos the clay, he'll lose his wings at dawn of day.
The song is a powerful depiction of the choice between love and loss, of the dangers of loving too much, and the fragility of human desire in contrast with the unattainable purity and beauty of the divine.
Line by Line Meaning
On Raglan Road on an autumn day
On the street of the same name, on an autumn day
I saw her first and knew
I saw her for the first time and immediately knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare
Her dark hair would be alluring to me, yet it could lead to harm or regret
That I might one day rue
I might regret my attraction to her
I saw the danger, yet I passed
I recognized the risk of my emotions, but still pursued her
Along the enchanted way
Along the magical or captivating journey of love
And I said, "Let grief be a falling leaf
At the dawning of the day"
I decided to let go of any potential pain associated with love and instead focus on each new day
On Grafton Street in November
On the street of the same name, in the month of November
We tripped lightly along the ledge
We walked lightly on the edge
Of a deep ravine where can be seen
The worth of passions pledged
We were in a deep valley where one can see the true value of commitments made with passion
The 'Queen of Hearts' still making tarts
And I not making hay
She was still living her life fully, while I was not taking advantage of opportunities
Oh, I loved too much and by such, by such
Is happiness thrown away
I loved excessively and that made me lose my chance to be happy
I gave her gifts of the mind
I offered her intellectual gifts like poetry or ideas
I gave her the secret sign
I showed her a symbol that only true artists know and understand
That's known to the artists who have known
The true gods of sound and stone
Only those who have a deep understanding of art and creativity can understand the symbol I showed her
And word and tint I did not stint
For I gave her poems to say
I didn't hold back on writing and composing poetic verses for her to recite
With her own name there and her own dark hair
Like clouds over fields of May
I wrote poems that referred to her by name and with descriptions that used her dark hair as a metaphor for beauty or allure
On a quiet street where old ghosts meet
I see her walking now
On a peaceful street where memories linger, I now see her walking away from me
Away from me so hurriedly
She is walking away from me quickly
My reason must allow
I am forced to accept the reality of the situation with logic rather than emotion
That I had loved not as I should
A creature made of clay
I realize that I had not loved her the way I should have, because I'm only human
When the angel woos the clay
He'll lose his wings at dawn of day
When an angel pursues something earthly, such as love, they will lose their heavenly qualities at daybreak.
Contributed by Austin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gustabritorozas
On Raglan Road of an autumn day
I saw her first and knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare
That I might one day rue
I saw the danger, and I passed
Along the enchanted way
And I said, "Let grief be a falling leaf
At the dawning of the day"
On Grafton Street in November
We tripped lightly along the ledge
Of a deep ravine where can be seen
The worth of passions pledged
The Queen of Hearts still making tarts
And I not making hay
Oh, I loved too much and by such, by such
Is happiness thrown away
I gave her gifts of the mind
I gave her the secret sign
That's known to the artists who have known
The true gods of sound and stone
And word and tint without stint
I gave her poems to say
With her own name there and her own dark hair
Like clouds over fields of May
On a quiet street where old ghosts meet
I see her walking now
Away from me so hurriedly
My reason must allow
That I had loved not as I should
A creature made of clay
When the angel woos the clay
He'd lose his wings at the dawn of day
@margaretsmyth6783
For me , no singer , of any genre, can touch either Luke’s voice or the words of this masterpiece of Irish folk music..
@alanoconnor4745
His voice is Ireland 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪
@PaulDoherty-sr7zc
This was my dad’s favourite song and subsequently became mine after he died
@hannahe7556
Just made a similar comment on the night visiting song, he’s like the Bob Marley of Ireland
@user-kf3iw5hr5e
Yes
@daomingjin
he does sound like a true drunk irish person ... lol
@emmawiles9297
I played this for my dad as he was dying. I'm sure he was transported back to Dublin and his family.
@truls4648
Most likely he were
@rocky7173
Sending you love and STRENGTH FROM IRELAND for 2023🙋🇨🇮🎻🎶
@hugovea
In the rare old times!