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.
Christmas Caroling
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We have come Christmas caroling and we hope you'll prove kind
And we hope you prove kind with your cakes and strong beer
And we'll come no more nigh you until the next year
We'll sing of the baby in Bethlehem barn
To Mary and Joseph on a cold Christmas morn
He was sent from above to be King of all kings
We're one two three jolly lads all in one mind
We have come Christmas caroling and we hope you'll prove kind
And we hope you prove kind with your cakes and strong beer
And we'll come no more nigh you until the next year
We'll sing of the bells that do joyfully ring
Of the peace and goodwill that the season does bring
And our friends and relations that we seldom do see
We'll all meet together now in one company
We're one two three jolly lads all in one mind
We have come Christmas caroling and we hope you'll prove kind
And we hope you prove kind with your cakes and strong beer
And we'll come no more nigh you until the next year
We'll sing of Saint Nicolas soon he'll be here
With toys for the children and lots of good cheer
And the feast of Saint Stephen with snow on the ground
I will wish we had Christmas the whole year around
We're one two three jolly lads all in one mind
We have come Christmas caroling and we hope you'll prove kind
And we hope you prove kind with your cakes and strong beer
And we'll come no more nigh you until the next year
Come ladies and gentlemen sit by the fire
Put your hands in your pockets, and give us our desire
Put your hands in your pockets, and treat us all right
If you give not we'll take not farewell and good night
We're one two three jolly lads all in one mind
We have come Christmas caroling and we hope you'll prove kind
And we hope you prove kind with your cakes and strong beer
And we'll come no more nigh you until the next year
The Irish Rovers "Christmas Caroling" is a song that revolves around a group of three jolly lads who travel from house to house, singing Christmas carols and hoping for treats. They stop by to sing about the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the ringing of bells, and the joy and goodwill that the season brings. They also mention St. Nicolas, who is soon to arrive with toys for children, and the feast of St. Stephen. The lyrics serve as a reminder that Christmas is a time for togetherness, and that good friends and family should be cherished.
The song is a perfect fit for the festive mood and the memories being made during Christmas time. It reminds us to be jolly and share the holiday spirit with everyone around us, including the tree jolly lads stopping by to sing carols. The line "Put your hands in your pockets, and give us our desire" is a tongue-in-cheek request for some treats, a reminder of the traditional activity of giving small gifts to carolers in exchange for their performance.
In conclusion, "Christmas Caroling" is a cheerful and uplifting song that embodies the Christmas spirit. It tells a story of unity, generosity, and joy, and encourages us to cherish our loved ones, give to others, and spread kindness during the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
We're one two three jolly lads all in one mind
We're a group of happy men with a unified purpose
We have come Christmas caroling and we hope you'll prove kind
We're here to sing our favorite Christmas songs and we hope you will be generous and welcoming
And we hope you prove kind with your cakes and strong beer
We would greatly appreciate some delicious food and drink to go with our songs
And we'll come no more nigh you until the next year
We'll only visit once a year, so enjoy the Christmas cheer while you can!
We'll sing of the baby in Bethlehem barn
Our first song will be about the birth of Jesus in a humble stable
To Mary and Joseph on a cold Christmas morn
Mary and Joseph were present at the birth of Jesus, which happened on a cold winter morning
He was sent from above to be King of all kings
Jesus was born to be the ruler of all people, sent by God from heaven
We rejoice in His memory and merely sing
We celebrate and honor Jesus' birth through our songs
We'll sing of the bells that do joyfully ring
Our second song will be about the happy and festive sounds of Christmas bells
Of the peace and goodwill that the season does bring
Christmas is a time of peace and goodwill towards all people
And our friends and relations that we seldom do see
We cherish this time of year because it brings together loved ones who we don't often get to see
We'll all meet together now in one company
We're grateful to be reunited with our friends and family during this festive season
We'll sing of Saint Nicolas soon he'll be here
Our next song is about the upcoming arrival of Saint Nicholas, who brings gifts to children
With toys for the children and lots of good cheer
Saint Nicholas is a beloved figure who spreads joy and generosity at Christmas time
And the feast of Saint Stephen with snow on the ground
We're also looking forward to the celebration of Saint Stephen's Day, which typically occurs when it's snowy outside
I will wish we had Christmas the whole year around
We love Christmas so much that we wish it could last all year long
Come ladies and gentlemen sit by the fire
We invite our hosts to relax and enjoy the warmth of the fire with us
Put your hands in your pockets, and give us our desire
We kindly request some monetary compensation for our Christmas caroling services
If you give not we'll take not farewell and good night
If our hosts do not wish to compensate us, we will respectfully bid them farewell and leave for the night
Writer(s): Traditional
Contributed by Savannah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ian Burt
on Bluenose
You have missed out a verse.