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 Boys of Belfast
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rant and roar and ramblin' round,
We're Irishmen of high renown,
That's the boys of Belfast!
X2
You will find us anywhere,
In the church or on the tear,
That's the Boys of Belfast
We're the boys of Belfast town,
Rant and roar and ramblin' round,
We're Irishmen of high renown,
That's the boys of Belfast!
We can fight with sword or pem,
We'll never break, we'll never bend,
And if we fall we'll rise again,
For we're the Boys of Belfast!
We're the boys of Belfast town,
Rant and roar and ramblin' round,
We're Irishmen of high renown,
That's the boys of Belfast!
We can sing and dance all night,
Kiss the girls and hold them tight,
Rovin' is our hearts' delight,
For we're the Boys of Belfast!
We're the boys of Belfast town,
Rant and roar and ramblin' round,
We're Irishmen of high renown,
That's the boys of Belfast!
We're the boys of Belfast town,
Rant and roar and ramblin' round,
We're Irishmen of high renown,
That's the boys of Belfast!
When we're back on paddy's shore,
The lassies they'll be sad no more,
Tonight we'll make the rafters roar,
In the pubs of Belfast!
We're the boys of Belfast town,
Rant and roar and ramblin' round,
We're Irishmen of high renown,
That's the boys of Belfast!
X2
The lyrics of "The Boys of Belfast" by The Irish Rovers celebrate the Irish community in the city of Belfast. The song emphasizes the pride and bravery of the Irishmen who reside there. The repeated verses of "We're the boys of Belfast town, Rant and roar and ramblin' round, We're Irishmen of high renown, That's the boys of Belfast!" serve to establish a sense of community and unique identity among the Irish residents of Belfast. The repetition is not only catchy but also reinforces the pride felt by these locals.
The song also references the ability of these boys to fight with a sword or pen, signifying both their physical and intellectual abilities. The line "And if we fall we'll rise again" serves to highlight the resilience of these men who will not be beaten, even in the face of adversity. The final stanza of the song speaks to the celebratory nature of the residents of Belfast, with the line "Tonight we'll make the rafters roar, In the pubs of Belfast!" indicating their love of joviality and revelry.
Overall, the song is a tribute to the Irish community of Belfast and their history of pride, resilience, and celebration.
Line by Line Meaning
We're the boys of Belfast town,
We are a group of men from the city of Belfast.
Rant and roar and ramblin' round,
We enjoy causing a commotion and being adventurous.
We're Irishmen of high renown,
We are proud of our Irish heritage and reputation.
That's the boys of Belfast!
We are the embodiment of the spirit of Belfast and its people.
You will find us anywhere,
We are everywhere and present in all aspects of society.
In the church or on the tear,
Whether we are participating in religious activities or getting rowdy, we are still the same group of people.
Brave and bold there's none so rare,
Our fearlessness and boldness is uncommon and distinguishes us from others.
We can fight with sword or pen,
We are capable of engaging in physical or intellectual conflicts and will not back down.
We'll never break, we'll never bend,
We are resilient and steadfast in our beliefs and actions.
And if we fall we'll rise again,
Even if we experience setbacks, we will pick ourselves up and continue on.
For we're the Boys of Belfast!
Our identity and pride are tied to our hometown of Belfast.
We can sing and dance all night,
We enjoy having a good time and being entertained.
Kiss the girls and hold them tight,
We are romantics and enjoy affection and intimacy with women.
Rovin' is our hearts' delight,
We enjoy traveling and experiencing new things.
When we're back on paddy's shore,
Upon returning to Ireland, specifically the land of St. Patrick (paddy),
The lassies they'll be sad no more,
Women will be happy to be in our presence and enjoy our company.
Tonight we'll make the rafters roar,
We will party and make a lot of noise in the local pubs.
In the pubs of Belfast!
We are known to frequent the pubs in our hometown.
Contributed by Luke G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ian Burt
on Bluenose
You have missed out a verse.