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.
Weila Weila Weila
The Dubliners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A weila weila waila
There was an old woman and she lived in the woods
Down by the River Saile
She had a baby three months old
A weila weila waila
She had a baby three months old
She had a penknife long and sharp
A weila weila waila
She had a penknife long and sharp
Down by the River Saile
She stuck the penknife in the baby's heart
A weila weila waila
She stuck the penknife in the baby's heart
Down by the River Saile
Three loud knocks came knocking on the door
A weila weila waila
Three loud knocks came knocking on the door
Down by the River Saile
There was two policeman and a man
A weila weila waila
There was two policeman and a man
Down by the River Saile
They took her away and they put her into jail
A weila weila waila
They took her away and they put her into jail
Down by the River Saile
They put a rope around her neck
A weila weila waila
They put a rope around her neck
Down by the River Saile
They pulled the rope she got hung
A weila weila waila
They pulled the rope she got hung
Down by the River Saile
Now that was the end of the woman in the woods
A weila weila waila
And that was the end of the baby too
Down by the River Saile
The Dubliners' song "Weila Weila Weila" tells the haunting story of an old woman who lived in the woods by the River Saile. The lyrics begin by describing this woman and her isolated home. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the old woman has committed a heinous crime: she has killed her three-month-old baby with a penknife. The lyrics are graphic in their description of the act, which is both shocking and disturbing. Following the murder, the woman is visited by two policemen and a man, who take her into custody and ultimately sentence her to death by hanging.
The lyrics of "Weila Weila Weila" have several possible interpretations. The most obvious is that they tell the story of a real-life crime that occurred in Ireland at some point in the past. However, the song can also be seen as an allegory for the sins of society more broadly. The old woman can be seen as a representative of all those who feel abandoned and alone in the world, while the baby represents the vulnerable and innocent members of society.
Line by Line Meaning
And there was an old woman and she lived in the woods
A weila weila waila
There was an old woman and she lived in the woods
Down by the River Saile
Introducing the main character, an old woman who lived in the woods near River Saile.
She had a baby three months old
A weila weila waila
She had a baby three months old
Down by the River Saile
The old woman had a three-month-old baby with her.
She had a penknife long and sharp
A weila weila waila
She had a penknife long and sharp
Down by the River Saile
The old woman had a long and sharp penknife with her.
She stuck the penknife in the baby's heart
A weila weila waila
She stuck the penknife in the baby's heart
Down by the River Saile
The old woman stabbed the baby with the penknife and killed him.
Three loud knocks came knocking on the door
A weila weila waila
Three loud knocks came knocking on the door
Down by the River Saile
Someone knocked loudly on the door of the old woman's house.
There was two policeman and a man
A weila weila waila
There was two policeman and a man
Down by the River Saile
There were two policemen and a man among the people who came knocking on her door.
They took her away and they put her into jail
A weila weila waila
They took her away and they put her into jail
Down by the River Saile
The policemen arrested the old woman and put her in jail.
They put a rope around her neck
A weila weila waila
They put a rope around her neck
Down by the River Saile
The jailers put a rope around the old woman's neck, preparing her for execution by hanging.
They pulled the rope she got hung
A weila weila waila
They pulled the rope she got hung
Down by the River Saile
They hanged the old woman as a punishment for her crime.
Now that was the end of the woman in the woods
A weila weila waila
And that was the end of the baby too
Down by the River Saile
The old woman and the baby both met their tragic end, with the old woman being executed and the baby killed by her.
Contributed by Alexandra T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ward-bk3tp
"Weila Waile"
And there was an old woman and she lived in the woods
A weila weila waila
There was an old woman and she lived in the woods
Down by the River Saile
She had a baby three months old
A weila weila waila
She had a baby three months old
Down by the River Saile
She had a penknife long and sharp
A weila weila waila
She had a penknife long and sharp
Down by the River Saile
She stuck the penknife in the baby's heart
A weila weila waila
She stuck the penknife in the baby's heart
Down by the River Saile
Three loud knocks came knocking on the door
A weila weila waila
Three loud knocks came knocking on the door
Down by the River Saile
There was two policeman and a man
A weila weila waila
There was two policeman and a man
Down by the River Saile
They took her away and they put her into jail
A weila weila waila
They took her away and they put her into jail
Down by the River Saile
They put a rope around her neck
A weila weila waila
They put a rope around her neck
Down by the River Saile
They pulled the rope she got hung
A weila weila waila
They pulled the rope she got hung
Down by the River Saile
Now that was the end of the woman in the woods
A weila weila waila
And that was the end of the baby too
Down by the River Saile
@mandybaker5212
Mum played this to us when we were kids. When I was an adult I questioned it’s suitably for children, she replied “it was cautionary tale, and neither you nor your brother have ever murdered a baby, so it worked!”.
@thebrigadier8259
Aye! Same. 😂
@Mark-on3nl
This song just pop into my head. I done a play when i was primary school age about 7 or 8 I played the baby in story. Knifes and police were part of play... thinking of it now its a bit dark and sinster...haha 😂 I think I'm still traumatised at age 40..😣😖
@TheTargaryen91
Omg me too! We learned this is school too! It's only when I listened to it properly I was wtf, it's still catchy
@gwenbrothers7080
I just discovered this tonight and I absolutely love it 🥰
@Pajak-mg4jf
I’m an American who loves old songs. I’ve sang this to my daughters since they were infants. They both still love it. The older they get the more I wonder if I should have refrained. Lyrics are a bit creepy coming out of the mouth of a 5 year old lol
@donjaime2373
Not going to lie, singing this to myself at work always gets a few funny looks...
@generalRonnieDrew
nah dont worry, you got a good taste in music. lol
@jacksonrailroad
I did the same thing but nobody noticed
@annbrannigan3958
Some people don't know a good song when they hear one.