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.
Salonika
The Dubliners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wonder if he knows he's got a kid with a foxy head
So right away, so right away,
So right away Salonika, right away me soldier boy
Now when the war is over, what will the slackers do
They'll be all around the soldiers for the loan of a bob or two
So right away, so right away,
Now when the war is over, what will the soldiers do
They'll be walking around on a leg and a half
And the slackers they'll have two
So right away, so right away,
So right away Salonika, right away me soldier boy
They taxed our pound of butter; they taxed our half-penny bun,
But still with all their taxes they can't beat the bloody Hun
So right away, so right away,
So right away Salonika, right away me soldier boy
They taxed the Coliseum; they taxed St. Mary's Hall
Why don't they tax the Bobbies with their backs against the wall
So right away, so right away,
So right away Salonika, right away me soldier boy
Now when the war is over, what will the slackers do
For every kid in America in there will be two
So right away, so right away,
So right away Salonika, right away me soldier boy
The Dubliners's song Salonika reflects the experiences and concerns of soldiers on the frontlines during World War I. The song's narrator expresses her worries about her husband who is serving in Salonika, Greece, hoping he is not dead and wondering whether he knows he has a child with a "foxy head." The repetitive emphasis on "so right away Salonika, right away me soldier boy" echoes the sense of urgency and immediacy that characterizes the wartime environment, conveying the pervasive anxiety and uncertainty that families and soldiers faced.
The song also touches on broader societal issues, such as the impact of the war on the economy and on ordinary citizens. The line "what will the slackers do" implies a sense of resentment towards those who are not serving in the war effort, while the reference to the taxation of items such as butter and bread highlights the economic strains that the war imposed on civilians. The sharp critique of the government's taxation policies ("Why don't they tax the Bobbies with their backs against the wall") speaks to the disillusionment that many soldiers and their families felt towards the authorities.
Overall, Salonika captures the complex emotions and social dynamics of the war period, evoking a sense of loss, fear, and frustration that was widespread at the time.
Line by Line Meaning
Me husband's in Salonika, I wonder if he's dead
My husband is fighting in Salonika, Greece during WWI and I am worried he may have been killed in battle.
I wonder if he knows he's got a kid with a foxy head
I am unsure if my husband knows that he has a child with unique and striking features.
Now when the war is over, what will the slackers do
Once the war ends, what will the people who avoided serving in the military do?
They'll be all around the soldiers for the loan of a bob or two
The slackers will be asking the soldiers who risked their lives for money when the war is over.
Now when the war is over, what will the soldiers do
After the war is over, what will the soldiers who suffered injuries during the war do?
They'll be walking around on a leg and a half
The soldiers will be physically handicapped after the war.
And the slackers they'll have two
Meanwhile, the people who avoided serving in the military will have two fully-functioning legs.
They taxed our pound of butter; they taxed our half-penny bun,
Even though the government heavily taxed everyday items like butter and bread, it couldn't defeat the enemy in the war.
But still with all their taxes they can't beat the bloody Hun
Despite the government's efforts to finance the war through taxation, they were still not able to defeat the Germans.
They taxed the Coliseum; they taxed St. Mary's Hall
The government imposed taxes on popular entertainment venues like the Coliseum and religious establishments like St. Mary's Hall.
Why don't they tax the Bobbies with their backs against the wall
The singer wonders why the government doesn't impose taxes on the police officers who have taken a strong stance against the enemy.
For every kid in America in there will be two
The artist predicts that after the war, American couples will have children at an increasingly high rate due to the return of their soldiers.
Contributed by Noah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.