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.
Lily The Pink
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll drink a drink a drink
To Lily the pink the pink the pink
The savior of the human race.
She invented medicinal compounds.
Most efficacious in every case.
Now here's a story
A little bit happy
A little bit sad
Of Lily the pink and
Her medicinal compounds.
And how it drove her to the bad.
Ol' Ebenezer
The opera singer
Could break a glass with his voice
'Tis said.
Rubbed his tonsils
With medicinal compounds
Now they break glasses over his head.
Johnny Hammer
Had a t-t-terrible stammer.
He could hardly s-s-say a word.
So they g-g-gave him
Medicinal compounds.
Now he's s-s-seen
But never heard.
(Chorus)
Uncle Paul, he
Was very small, he
Was the shortest man in town.
Rubbed his body
With medicinal compounds.
Now he weighs only half a pound.
Lily died and
Went up to heaven.
All the church bells
They did ring.
She took with her
Medicinal compounds.
Hark the herald angels sing.
(Chorus)
The song Lily the Pink by The Irish Rovers is a tribute to a fictional woman named Lily who created a concoction of medicinal compounds that could cure any ailment. The chorus encourages the listeners to raise a glass in honor of Lily, who is referred to as the savior of the human race. The first verse tells the story of how Lily's medicinal compounds saved Ol' Ebenezer's singing career. He had the ability to break glasses with his voice, but when he lost his voice, he turned to Lily's compounds, and they worked so well that he can now have glasses broken over his head.
The second verse is about Johnny Hammer, who had a terrible stutter. After taking Lily's compounds, he was cured of his speech impediment, but strangely, he is now seen but never heard. The third verse is about Uncle Paul, the shortest man in town. After using Lily's compounds, he has become incredibly light and now weighs only half a pound. The final verse speaks of Lily's death and how she took her medicinal compounds with her to heaven, and the church bells rang in her honor.
Overall, the song is a witty and humorous tribute to a woman who supposedly could cure any ailment with her medicinal compounds. It's interesting to note that the song was based on an actual person, Lydia Pinkham, who created a popular herbal tonic that claimed to cure various female ailments such as menstrual cramps and menopause symptoms.
Line by Line Meaning
We'll drink a drink a drink
To Lily the pink the pink the pink
The savior of the human race.
Let's raise our glasses and toast to Lily the Pink, who saved humanity with her medicinal compounds.
She invented medicinal compounds.
Most efficacious in every case.
Lily created highly effective medicinal remedies that cured all ailments.
Now here's a story
A little bit gory
A little bit happy
A little bit sad
Of Lily the pink and
Her medicinal compounds.
And how it drove her to the bad.
This is a story of Lily the Pink, her miraculous medications and how their success drove her to madness.
Ol' Ebenezer
The opera singer
Could break a glass with his voice
'Tis said.
Rubbed his tonsils
With medicinal compounds
Now they break glasses over his head.
Ebenezer the opera singer rubbed Lily's medication on his throat, making his voice so powerful it can now break glass with ease.
Johnny Hammer
Had a t-t-terrible stammer.
He could hardly s-s-say a word.
So they g-g-gave him
Medicinal compounds.
Now he's s-s-seen
But never heard.
Johnny Hammer had a stammer, but after using Lily's medication, he can now speak fluently, although he rarely does.
(Chorus)
Let's raise our glasses again to celebrate Lily the Pink and her lifesaving medicines.
Uncle Paul, he
Was very small, he
Was the shortest man in town.
Rubbed his body
With medicinal compounds.
Now he weighs only half a pound.
Lily's medication somehow shrunk Uncle Paul, who was already very small, to where he only weighs half a pound.
Lily died and
Went up to heaven.
All the church bells
They did ring.
She took with her
Medicinal compounds.
Hark the herald angels sing.
Lily has passed away and gone to heaven, where even the angels rejoice at her presence and the knowledge of her incredible medicinal remedies.
Contributed by Alexander R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kilotypical2463
We'll drink a drink a drink
To Lily the pink the pink the pink
The savior of (the savior of) the human race.
She invented medicinal compound
Most efficacious in every case
Here's a story, a little bit gory
A little bit happy, a little bit sad
Of Lily the Pink and her medicinal compound
And how it slowly drove her to the bad
Meet Ebenezer, thought he was Julius Caesar.
So they put him in a home.
And then they gave him medicinal compound,
And now he's Emperor of Rome.
We'll drink a drink a drink
To Lily the pink the pink the pink
The savior of (the savior of) the human race.
She invented medicinal compound
Most efficacious in every case
And Freddie Clinger, the opera singer,
Who could break glasses with his voice they said.
So on his tonsils he rubbed medicinal compound,
And now they break glasses over his head.
Meet Johnny Hammer had a t-t-terrible s-s-stammer.
He could b-barely say a word.
So they gave him medicinal compound,
And now he's seen, but never heard.
We'll drink a drink a drink
To Lily the pink the pink the pink
The savior of (the savior of) the human race.
She invented medicinal compound
Most efficacious in every case
And Uncle Paul, he was very small. He
Was the shortest man in town.
So on his body he rubbed medicinal compound,
And now he's six foot, but it's underground.
Lily died and went up to heaven.
Oh, the church bells they did ring.
She took with her medicinal compound.
Hark the herald angels sing.
We'll drink a drink a drink
To Lily the pink the pink the pink
The savior of (the savior of) the human race.
She invented medicinal compound
Most efficacious in every case
We'll drink a drink a drink
To Lily the pink the pink the pink
The savior of (the savior of) the human race.
She invented medicinal compound
Most efficacious in every case
@dustyrose7744
Love this, brings back fun child hood memories. ❤
@PRR5406
This was one of the most fun groups I ever saw in performance. Jimmy Ferguson was a big, rolling, happy, man. Will Millar seemed to push a bit out front, but the Irish Rovers always made your heart swell with happiness. They had wonderful harmonies and kept things light and lively. For years, they kept us from turning the television channel, once you hit them mid-song!
@kelleyseiler8193
I remember watching The Irish Rovers with my mom every Sunday night on the CBC when I was a child. One of my favorite memories.
@keithhanley7796
RIP Jim - you were the best, and there'll never be another like you. You are very much missed ...
@albertarn
This video is of the guys in their best years - the early-to-mid 1970s. Not that they haven't always been great, just that those were their best years - the time of their TV show. Would love to see the rest of the concert posted here.
@jrsytchannel2022
Holy crap. I think I just witnessed one of the greatest performances in all history.
@berniejackson5149
Such great voices
@oldtexasmusic
Thanks, Melitta, for sharing this upbeat, happy tune. Thanks to ratlinbog for posting it. and to the musicians for all your effort.
@DCFelix67
I've loved this song since I was a kid but I was always sorry listening to it on the album that it didn't include the verse that nationalist kids in the North of Ireland said in the 70s about Ian Paisley. "Oh, Ian Paisley, he was crazy, so they put him in a ho-o-ome, where they gave him medicinal compound, and now he's joined the Church of Rome."
@jeanneplymette411
Love it!