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.
Isle Of Innisfree
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say
But sure a body's bound to be a dreamer
When all the things he loves are far away.
And precious things are dreams onto an exile
They take him o'er the land across the sea
Especially when it happens he's an exile
From that dear lovely Isle of Innisfree.
And when the moonlight peeps across the rooftops
Of this great city wondrous tho' it be
I scarcely feel its wonder or its laughter
I'm once again back home in Innisfree.
I wander o'er green hills thro' dreamy valleys
And find a peace no other land could know
I hear the birds make music fit for angels
And watch the rivers laughing as they flow.
And then into a humble shack I wander
My dear old home, and tenderly behold
The folks I love around the turf fire gathered
On bended knees their rosary is told.
But dreams don't last
Tho' dreams are not forgotten
And soon I'm back to stern reality
But tho' they paved the footways here with gold dust
I still would choose the Isle of Innisfree.
The lyrics to The Irish Rovers' "Isle of Innisfree" is an ode to homesickness, nostalgia, and the power of dreams. The song is about a person who is far away from home, likely an immigrant or an exile, and who misses the simple pleasures of their homeland. The opening lines, "I've met some folks who say that I'm a dreamer/ And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say," acknowledges the criticism he's faced for being a dreamer, but the singer also acknowledges that dreaming is inevitable when one is far away from the people and places they love.
The song speaks about how the things that the person dreams about, including the green hills, dreamy valleys, and the sound of birds singing, are all things that are precious to someone who is far away from home. The music and lyrics evoke a yearning for a simple life, free from the struggles and disappointments of the outside world. The lyrics describe the moonlight that peeps across the rooftops in the city and how, even though it's supposed to be wondrous, the singer still feels distant from it. The person is transported, in their imagination, back to their home in Innisfree.
The song concludes with the acknowledgment that dreams don't last forever, but they are not forgotten. Despite the joys and excitement of life in the big city, the singer would still choose the Isle of Innisfree. The song captures the universal feeling of homesickness experienced by people who have left their home countries to start new lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I've met some folks who say that I'm a dreamer
I've encountered people who believe that I'm an idealistic person
And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say
I agree with them to some extent
But sure a body's bound to be a dreamer
However, it is expected for someone to be a dreamer
When all the things he loves are far away
Especially when everything they cherish is distant
And precious things are dreams onto an exile
Memories of what they treasure the most are like fleeting dreams to an exiled person
They take him o'er the land across the sea
Such reminiscences transport the individual across the vast land and sea
Especially when it happens he's an exile
This is particularly true if the individual is an exile
From that dear lovely Isle of Innisfree
From that beloved and beautiful Isle of Innisfree
And when the moonlight peeps across the rooftops
And when the moon's light shines over the roofs
Of this great city wondrous tho' it be
Of this awe-inspiring city, no matter how marvelous it can be
I scarcely feel its wonder or its laughter
I barely feel its awe-inspiring or cheerful atmosphere
I'm once again back home in Innisfree
I'm recollecting myself back in my hometown of Innisfree
I wander o'er green hills thro' dreamy valleys
I travel over grassy hills and through hazy valleys
And find a peace no other land could know
And discover a serenity that no other region could ever provide
I hear the birds make music fit for angels
I listen to the sweet songs of birds that resemble the melodies of angels
And watch the rivers laughing as they flow
And I observe the rivers that glisten and flow joyfully
And then into a humble shack I wander
And then I wander into a modest hut
My dear old home, and tenderly behold
My beloved old home, and I behold it affectionately
The folks I love around the turf fire gathered
The loved ones around the burning turf heap are congregated
On bended knees their rosary is told
They are reciting their rosary while kneeling
But dreams don't last
However, dreams don't persist
Tho' dreams are not forgotten
Although dreams are not forgotten
And soon I'm back to stern reality
I'll soon return to the harsh reality
But tho' they paved the footways here with gold dust
But even though the footpaths were paved with gold dust here
I still would choose the Isle of Innisfree
I still would prefer Innisfree Island
Contributed by Miles B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ian Burt
on Bluenose
You have missed out a verse.