In 1968, the predecessor of the Juno’s named The Irish Rovers Canada’s, “Folk Group of the Year”, and the following year, they received a Grammy nomination for “Folk Performance of the Year”.
As hosts of three national television series in Canada and Ireland, through the 1970's and 80s, The Irish Rovers increased the popularity of Irish music by way of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).
Canada's Prime Minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, personally asked the band if they could “please become Canadian” so that they could officially represent Canada throughout the world. Since then, they have represented Canada at no less than five world Expos, and in recognition for a quarter century of contributions to the International music world, The Irish Rovers won the Performing Rights Organization's (PROCAN) 'Harold Moon Award'.
Although all members of the band hail from Ireland, a number of their biggest hits were often "non-Irish". Their own rousing, traditional Irish compositions, however, do comprise the bulk of their music.
By the 90’s, their songwriting was even more prolific than their early years, and production of albums wasn’t about to slow down. Since they desired the freedom that as a younger band, they could not afford, in ’93 The Irish Rovers established their own record company, Rover Records. Their songs tell the story of the Irish, whether it’s a lost love, a sailor on leave, or the simple good taste of a Guinness. Rover Records has put out their last eleven albums, including Celtic Collection, Come Fill Up Your Glasses, Down by the Lagan Side, Another Round, Still Rovin', a Christmas album, and their greatest hits, 40 Years A-Rovin'.
Founding member George Millar is from Ballymena, original member Wilcil McDowell is from Larne, John Reynolds from Belfast, Sean O'Driscoll from Cork, Ian Millar from Ballymena, and percussionist Fred Graham is also from Belfast.
Former members include founding member Jimmy Ferguson who passed away in 1997 and Joe Millar.
Buy Us A Drink
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With lovely tin hats and long woollen drawers
The Colonel says right lads, over the top
Then stands back tae wtach while the poor buggers drop
Chorus:
Buy us a drink and we'll sing you a song
Of the chances you missed and the love that went wrong
We'll knock it straight down and we'll sing half the night
There's girls in the parlour, there's girls in the bars
They paint on the smile so you don't see the scars
They get lots of offers and not much respect
For raisin' three kids on a government cheque
Drink it down, boys, down
As long as there's light in the day
For you'll get no more sup
When your number is up
And they lay to rot in the clay
In comes the landlord so fat and contect
Comes round in his Volvo to pick up the rent
Then off with his wad tae recline by the pool
He leave tea rot in this dirty old hold
Repeat Chorus
It's the taste of the whiskey tae tell you the truth
Has shortened me days and wasted me youth
Be kind tae the health, sir do it no harm
Put a pint'o the black on end of me arm
Repeat Chorus Twice
The Irish Rovers’ “Buy Us A Drink” is a song that sharply portrays the darker side of life, with a particular emphasis on the hard times endured by soldiers, women raising children alone, and the hardworking poor. The beginning of the song speaks of the soldiers who march to the wars and the stark reality of their hopelessness when their commanding officers ordered them to charge in battle. The soldiers, with “lovely tin hats and long woolen drawers,” were left defenseless under the orders of their superior officers who just stood back and watched as “the poor buggers drop.” This line illustrates the futility and waste of many soldiers' lives who are lost fighting other people’s wars.
The chorus of the song speaks of the desire for a drink by those who have nothing left to lose. It speaks of the various challenges in life and the need for a shoulder to lean on. It encourages people to find solace in the company of others, even if all they have to offer is their company, and to endure the hardships of life with a sense of camaraderie instead of facing the struggles alone. The other lines of the song speak of the struggles encountered by women raising children alone and the poor who continue to feel the economic hardships of poverty. It is a compelling song that urges people to see the need to look out for one another through the challenging times we face.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's to the oldiers that march tae the wars
Let us raise a glass for the soldiers who march off to war.
With lovely tin hats and long woollen drawers
They wear tin hats and woollen drawers.
The Colonel says right lads, over the top
The Colonel orders the soldiers to advance over the top of the trench.
Then stands back tae wtach while the poor buggers drop
The Colonel stands back while the soldiers fall in battle.
Chorus:
Refrain
Buy us a drink and we'll sing you a song
If you buy us a drink, we'll sing you a song.
Of the chances you missed and the love that went wrong
The song will be about missed opportunities and failed love.
If you can't buy a whiskey, stand us a pint
If you cannot afford whiskey, buy us a pint of beer instead.
We'll knock it straight down and we'll sing half the night
We will drink it quickly and sing for a long time.
There's girls in the parlour, there's girls in the bars
There are women in the parlours and women in the bars.
They paint on the smile so you don't see the scars
They put on a smile to hide their pain.
They get lots of offers and not much respect
They receive many offers but are not respected.
For raisin' three kids on a government cheque
They are raising three children on a government check.
Drink it down, boys, down
Drink it quickly, boys.
As long as there's light in the day
Drink as long as there is light in the day.
For you'll get no more sup
You won't drink anymore.
When your number is up
When your time has come.
And they lay to rot in the clay
And you will be buried in the ground.
In comes the landlord so fat and contect
Here comes the landlord who is fat and content.
Comes round in his Volvo to pick up the rent
He comes around in his car to collect the rent.
Then off with his wad tae recline by the pool
He takes his money to relax by the pool.
He leave tea rot in this dirty old hold
He leaves the place to rot in this dirty old building.
Repeat Chorus
Refrain
It's the taste of the whiskey tae tell you the truth
To be honest, it's the taste of the whiskey.
Has shortened me days and wasted me youth
Drinking whiskey has shortened my life and wasted my youth.
Be kind tae the health, sir do it no harm
Be kind to your health, don't harm it.
Put a pint'o the black on end of me arm
Give me a pint of beer.
Repeat Chorus Twice
Refrain
Contributed by Jacob K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Darius
Here's to the soldiers that march to the wars
With lovely tin hats and long, woolen drawers
The Colonel says "Right lads, over the top!"
Then he stands back to watch while the poor buggers drop
Buy us a drink and we'll sing you a song
Of the chances you missed and the love that went wrong
If you can't buy a whiskey, stand us a pint
We'll knock it straight down and we'll sing half the night
There's girls in the parlor, there's girls in the bars
They paint on the smile so you don't see the scars
They get lots of offers, and not much respect
For raising three kids on a government check
Buy us a drink and we'll sing you a song
Of the chances you missed and the love that went wrong
If you can't buy a whiskey, stand us a pint
We'll knock it straight down and we'll sing half the night
Drink it down, boys, down
As long as there's light in the day
For you'll get no more sup when your number is up
And they lay you to rot in the clay
In comes the landlord so fat and content
Comes round in his Volvo to pick up the rent
Then off with his wad to recline by the pool
He leaves you to rot in this dirty old hole
Buy us a drink and we'll sing you a song
Of the chances you missed and the love that went wrong
If you can't buy a whiskey, stand us a pint
We'll knock it straight down and we'll sing half the night
It's the taste of the whiskey, to tell you the truth
Has shortened my days and wasted my youth
Be kind to the health sir, do it no harm
Put a pint o' the black on the end of my arm
Buy us a drink and we'll sing you a song
Of the chances you missed and the love that went wrong
If you can't buy a whiskey, stand us a pint
We'll knock it straight down and we'll sing half the night
Buy us a drink and we'll sing you a song
Of the chances you missed and the love that went wrong
If you can't buy a whiskey, stand us a pint
We'll knock it straight down and we'll sing half the night
Nicholas Leonard
I listened to this song when I was completely COCKED. Can't listen to this without barely remembering that foggy and blurry recollection.
I can literally taste the liquor.
Henk Maurix
Here's to the soldiers that march to the wars
With lovely tin hats and long woollen drawers
The Colonel says right lads, over the top
Then he stands back to watch while the poor buggers drop
Buy us a drink and we'll sing you a song
Of the chances you missed and the love that went wrong
If you can't buy a whiskey, stand us a pint
We'll knock it straight down and we'll sing half the night
There's girls in the parlour, there's girls in the bars
They paint on the smile so you don't see the scars
They get lots of offers and not much respect
For raisin' three kids on a government cheque
Buy us a drink and we'll sing you a song
Of the chances you missed and the love that went wrong
If you can't buy a whiskey, stand us a pint
We'll knock it straight down and we'll sing half the night
Drink it down, boys, down
As long as there's light in the day
For you'll get no more sup
When your number is up
And they lay you to rot in the clay
In comes the landlord so fat and content
Comes round in his Volvo to pick up the rent
Then off with his wife to recline by the pool
He leave you to rot in this dirty old hold
Buy us a drink and we'll sing you a song
Of the chances you missed and the love that went wrong
If you can't buy a whiskey, stand us a pint
We'll knock it straight down and we'll sing half the night
It’s the taste of the Whiskey to tell you the truth
That shortened me belt and wasted me youth
Be kind to your health Sir don’t do it no harm
But do find it a laugh at the end of the yarn
-Chorus X 2
cheshuevich4
My favorite songs group!
William Dusty
is it bad this is one of my top 3 songs
Mr Zone
Not at all.