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.
Staten Island
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the wild Atlantic we said farewell
On Staten Island when we landed
There we had our tale to tell
We're the poor, the huddled masses
We have crossed the lonely sea
Left the Old World for the New World
We left our homes in forty-seven
Turned our backs against the wind
From our ships of creakin' timber
We bid farewell to a famished land
We're the poor, the huddled masses
We have crossed the lonely sea
Left the Old World for the New World
Left the old ways to be free
With heavy hearts we left behind us
Memories of better days
Old men talkin', laughin'
As we danced the night away
We're the poor, the huddled masses
We have crossed the lonely sea
Left the Old World for the New World
Left the old ways to be free
Still we hear their voices calling
On the wind we hear their sound
Friends and loved ones, old and young ones
Lie beneath the fallen mound
We're the poor, the huddled masses
We have crossed the lonely sea
Left the Old World for the New World
Left the old ways to be free
Now those years are far behind us
Now our spirits have grown strong
In this land that gave us freedom
And the will to carry on
We're the poor, the huddled masses
We have crossed the lonely sea
Left the Old World for the New World
Left the old ways to be free
We're the poor, the huddled masses
We have crossed the lonely sea
Left the Old World for the New World
Left the old ways to be free
The Irish Rovers's song "Staten Island" tells the story of a group of immigrants who sailed down the Hudson River and landed on Staten Island. They were poor and had left their homes in the Old World to start a new life in the New World, free from the old ways. The lyrics suggest the hardships that the immigrants faced and the memories of home and loved ones that they left behind.
The first stanza speaks of sailing down the Hudson River to the wild Atlantic and landing on Staten Island. The second stanza acknowledges the immigrants as the poor, the huddled masses who left the Old World for the New World to be free. The third and fourth stanzas speak of leaving behind memories of better days and loved ones, while also acknowledging the fallen mounds that symbolize the sacrifices and tragedies of the journey. The fifth and sixth stanzas highlight how the years have passed, and the immigrants have grown strong in the land that gave them freedom and the will to carry on.
The song is a poignant tribute to the many immigrants who, throughout history, have left their homes to start anew, seeking freedom, opportunity, and a better life. The Irish Rovers's version stands out in its simple, yet stirring arrangement, driven by guitar, tin whistle, and harmonica.
Line by Line Meaning
We sailed our ship down the Hudson River
We journeyed down the Hudson River on our ship
To the wild Atlantic we said farewell
We said goodbye to the Atlantic Ocean as we sailed away
On Staten Island when we landed
We arrived on Staten Island and stopped there
There we had our tale to tell
We had a story to tell about our journey and arrival
We're the poor, the huddled masses
We are poor and come from a group of people who are packed closely together
We have crossed the lonely sea
We completed a journey across the vast, isolating ocean
Left the Old World for the New World
We left behind the familiar ways of our old world for a new one
Left the old ways to be free
We abandoned our old ways of life in exchange for freedom
We left our homes in forty-seven
We left our homes during the year of 1847
Turned our backs against the wind
We went against the resistance of the wind as we departed
From our ships of creakin' timber
Our ships were made of creaky wood
We bid farewell to a famished land
We said goodbye to a place suffering from a lack of food
With heavy hearts we left behind us
We left with sadness in our hearts
Memories of better days
We remembered good times from the past
Old men talkin', laughin'
Elderly men conversed and laughed together
As we danced the night away
We spent the night dancing
Still we hear their voices calling
We still hear the voices of those we left behind
On the wind we hear their sound
We hear their sound carried on the wind
Friends and loved ones, old and young ones
The people we miss include both friends and family members, of all ages
Lie beneath the fallen mound
They are buried in graves
Now those years are far behind us
Those events are now in the distant past
Now our spirits have grown strong
We have grown resilient and determined
In this land that gave us freedom
We live in a country that granted us freedom
And the will to carry on
We have the determination to keep going
We're the poor, the huddled masses
We are still part of the group of impoverished people who were once crowded together
We have crossed the lonely sea
We succeeded in crossing the large, solitary ocean
Left the Old World for the New World
We left the familiar ways of our old life for a new one
Left the old ways to be free
We abandoned our old ways of living in pursuit of freedom
Contributed by Oliver E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ian Burt
on Bluenose
You have missed out a verse.