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.
The Biplane Evermore
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In Hangar Number Four
A lonely little biplane slept
Whose name was Evermore
His working days were over
No more would he sail
Upon his wings above the clouds,
Bye-bye, biplane
Once-upon-a-sky plane
Bye-bye, hush a bye,
Lulla-biplane
All the mighty jet planes
Would look down their nose
They’d laugh and say, “Oh, I’m so glad
That I’m not one of those.”
Bye-bye, biplane
Once-upon-a-sky plane
Bye-bye, hush a bye,
Lulla-biplane
And Evermore would shake away
The teardrops from his wings
And dream of days when he again
Could do heroic things
Bye-bye, biplane
Once-upon-a-sky plane
Bye-bye, hush a bye,
Lulla-biplane
[chorus]
Then one day the fog and rain
Had closed the airport down
And all the mighty jet planes
Were helpless on the ground
When a call came to the airport
For a mercy flight
‘Twould be too late, they could not wait
someone must fly tonight.
They rolled the little biplane
Out to Runway Number Five
And though he looked so small and weak
He knew he could survive
And as he rose into the storm
The jet planes hung their wings
And they hoped someday, like Evermore,
To do heroic things.
Bye-bye, biplane
Once-upon-a-sky plane
Bye-bye, hush a bye,
Lulla-biplane
And so, my billy bundle
I have spun a tale for you
You must learn there’s nothing
In this world that you can’t do.
Now, do not be discouraged
By circumstance or size
Remember Evermore
And set your sights up in the skies.
Bye-bye, biplane
Once-upon-a-sky plane
Bye-bye, hush a bye,
Lulla-biplane
[chorus fades out]
(voice over)
Goodnight, Wilbur.
Goodnight, Orville.
The Irish Rovers's song "The Biplane Evermore" is a heartwarming tale about an old biplane named Evermore who had retired from his job of flying the royal mail. The song is set in Hangar Number Four at London Airport. Evermore was not pleased with his retirement and longed to fly again. The mighty jet planes used to make fun of him, but Evermore never lost hope.
One day, when the airport was closed due to bad weather, a call came for a mercy flight that had to be flown that night. The jet planes were helpless, giving Evermore the opportunity to prove his worth. The small and weak biplane was rolled out to Runway Number Five, and he rose into the storm to complete the mercy flight. As the jet planes watched Evermore fly into the sunset, they hoped to be able to do heroic things just like he did.
The song is a beautiful reminder that regardless of size or circumstance, anyone can achieve greatness if they keep their hopes up and persevere through tough times. The lyrics are written in a lullaby-like manner, making them sweet and calming to listen to. The song ends with a friendly goodnight to the Wright brothers, who invented the first successful airplane a century before.
Line by Line Meaning
Way out at London Airport
At the far end of London Airport
In Hangar Number Four
Inside Hangar Number Four building
A lonely little biplane slept
A single-seater aircraft was parked there
Whose name was Evermore
It was named Evermore
His working days were over
Its era of flying was finished
No more would he sail
It wouldn't fly anymore
Upon his wings above the clouds,
Above the clouds, flying via its wings,
Flying the royal mail
it carried the mail of the royalty.
Bye-bye, biplane
Goodbye, little airplane
Once-upon-a-sky plane
The plane that once flew high in the sky
Bye-bye, hush a bye,
Farewell, goodnight
Lulla-biplane
Sleep well, plane
All the mighty jet planes
Other, more powerful airplanes
Would look down their nose
Would view the biplane with disdain
They’d laugh and say, “Oh, I’m so glad
They would chuckle and say how happy
That I’m not one of those.”
they are not like the biplane.
And Evermore would shake away
The biplane would brush off
The teardrops from his wings
the moisture on its wings
And dream of days when he again
And reminisce of flying days when it
Could do heroic things
could do daring, brave missions
Then one day the fog and rain
One day, fog and rain appeared
Had closed the airport down
closing the airport completely
And all the mighty jet planes
the other airplanes
Were helpless on the ground
were stuck on the ground
When a call came to the airport
An airport call came through
For a mercy flight
A mercy flight was requested
‘Twould be too late, they could not wait
It would be too late. They could not afford to wait
someone must fly tonight.
There was a critical need to fly immediately.
They rolled the little biplane
The biplane was taken out of the hangar
Out to Runway Number Five
It was directed to runway number five
And though he looked so small and weak
Even though it seemed small and vulnerable,
He knew he could survive
It trusted itself that it could make it
And as he rose into the storm
And as it flew into the oncoming tempest,
The jet planes hung their wings
The other airplanes’ wings drooped
And they hoped someday, like Evermore,
they wished to accomplish brave things like the biplane did
To do heroic things.
to be brave and fearless.
And so, my billy bundle
And that how my child
I have spun a tale for you
I have told you a story
You must learn there’s nothing
You must acknowledge that there is nothing
In this world that you can’t do.
you can't accomplish in this world
Now, do not be discouraged
Now, do not lose hope
By circumstance or size
due to any situation, no matter how big or small
Remember Evermore
Recall how Evermore
And set your sights up in the skies.
did not give up and aimed high towards the sky.
Goodnight, Wilbur.
Goodbye Wilbur
Goodnight, Orville.
Goodbye Orville.
Contributed by Carson D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jeanna Lee
Way out in London airport in hangar number four
A lonely little biplane lived whose name was Evermore
His working days were over no more would he sail
Upon his wings above the clouds flying the royal mail
Bye bye biplane once upon a sky plane
Bye bye hushabye lullabye plane
All the mighty jet planes would look down their nose
They'd laugh and say oh I'm so glad that I'm not one of those
And Evermore would shake away the teardrops from his wings
And dream of days when he again could do heroic things
Then one day the fog and rain had closed the airport down
And all the mighty jet planes were helpless on the ground
When a call came to the airport for a mercy flight
'Twould be too late, they could not wait, someone must fly tonight
Ah they rolled the little biplane out to runway number five
And though he looked so small and weak he knew he could survive
And as he rose into the storm the big jets hung their wings
And they hoped someday like Evermore to do heroic things
And so my baby bundle I have spun a tale for you
You must learn there's nothing in this world that you can't do
Do not be discouraged by circumstance and size
Remember Evermore and set your sights upon the skies
Amy Cote
When I was about two years old, this was my absolute favorite song. So my dear old Dad made a reel-to-reel tape of this song, over and over again (my folks didn't have a cassette player).
C.R. Stoller
Amy Cote Mine too, right around that same age. I am 39 years old now.
Jeanna Lee
Way out in London airport in hangar number four
A lonely little biplane lived whose name was Evermore
His working days were over no more would he sail
Upon his wings above the clouds flying the royal mail
Bye bye biplane once upon a sky plane
Bye bye hushabye lullabye plane
All the mighty jet planes would look down their nose
They'd laugh and say oh I'm so glad that I'm not one of those
And Evermore would shake away the teardrops from his wings
And dream of days when he again could do heroic things
Then one day the fog and rain had closed the airport down
And all the mighty jet planes were helpless on the ground
When a call came to the airport for a mercy flight
'Twould be too late, they could not wait, someone must fly tonight
Ah they rolled the little biplane out to runway number five
And though he looked so small and weak he knew he could survive
And as he rose into the storm the big jets hung their wings
And they hoped someday like Evermore to do heroic things
And so my baby bundle I have spun a tale for you
You must learn there's nothing in this world that you can't do
Do not be discouraged by circumstance and size
Remember Evermore and set your sights upon the skies
macdaddynavy
Never heard this but thanks to you I have now. Wonderful tune. Thanks for posting it.
James Naile
I'm 62 years old a little drunk and this song still makes me 😢
memorablemonkey
Love this song, thank you !!!!
stoopidmonkeyful
Sweet memories! My folks had The Irish Rovers' Greatest Hits on MCA vinyl back in the 70's/80's....
Malcolm McLeod
Yours as well? What a great upbringing we had, then :-)
Lew Osteen
Once upon a time you could understand lyrics and sing along!
Tara Kirkham
My grandpa used to play this song in the car on the way to school; I forgot it existed until very recently. I’m so glad I found it here, good memories:)