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 Drunk Scotsman Song
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
left the bar one evenin' fair.
And one could tell by how he walked,
that he'd drunk more than his share.
He fumbled 'round until he could
no longer keep his feet,
then he stumbled off into the grass
to sleep beside the street.
Ring-ding-diddle-iddle-aye-dee-oh!
Ring-die-diddilee-aye-oh!
He stumbled off into the grass
to sleep beside the street.
About that time, two young and lovely
girls just happened by.
One says to the other
with a twinkle in her eye:
"See yon sleeping Scotsman
so strong and handsome built?
I wonder if it's true what they
don't wear beneath the kilt?"
Ring-ding-diddle-iddle-aye-dee-oh!
Ring-die-diddilee-aye-oh!
"I wonder if it's true what they
don't wear beneath the kilt?"
They crept up on that sleeping Scotsman
quiet as could be.
Lifted up his kilt about
an inch so they could see.
And there behold for them to view
beneath his Scottish skirt
Was nothing more than God
had graced him with upon his birth.
Ring-ding-diddle-iddle-aye-dee-oh!
Ring-die-diddilee-aye-oh!
Was nothing more than God
had graced him with upon his birth.
They marveled for a moment
then one said: "We must be gone.
Let's leave a present for our friend
before we move along."
As a gift, they left a blue silk ribbon
tied into a bow.
Around the bonny star the Scot's kilt
did lift and show.
Ring-ding-diddle-iddle-aye-dee-oh!
Ring-die-diddilee-aye-oh!
Around the bonny star the Scot's kilt
did lift and show.
Now the Scotsman woke to nature's call
and stumbled towards the trees.
Behind the bush, he lifts his kilt
and gawks at what he sees.
And in a startled voice, he says
to what's before his eyes:
"Well, lad, I don't know where you've been
but I see you've won first prize!"
Ring-ding-diddle-iddle-aye-dee-oh!
Ring-die-diddilee-aye-oh!
"Well, lad, I don't know where you've been
but I see you've won firts prize
"The Drunk Scotsman Song" by The Irish Rovers tells the humorous story of a Scotsman who drinks too much at a bar one evening and passes out while sleeping outside. Two young girls come across him and lift his kilt to see if it's true that Scotsmen don't wear anything underneath it. They are surprised to see that he is well-endowed and decide to leave him a gift - a blue silk ribbon tied around his kilt. When the Scotsman wakes up and sees the ribbon, he lifts his kilt to go to the bathroom and sees what the girls have done. He quips that it looks like the mysterious man under his kilt has won first prize.
The lyrics of this song are simple and repetitive, making it an easy and fun sing-along tune. It's a lighthearted take on Scottish culture and tradition, portraying Scotsmen as heavy drinkers who wear kilts but no underwear. The song also plays on the age-old myth that Scotsmen are well-endowed, portrayed in a humorous way.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, Scotsman clad in kilt,
left the bar one evenin' fair.
A Scottish man in traditional attire left the bar in the evening.
And one could tell by how he walked,
that he'd drunk more than his share.
His stumbling gait indicated that he had more than enough to drink.
He fumbled 'round until he could
no longer keep his feet,
then he stumbled off into the grass
to sleep beside the street.
He wandered around aimlessly until he couldn't stand, then collapsed onto the grass to sleep.
About that time, two young and lovely
girls just happened by.
One says to the other
with a twinkle in her eye:
Two young women came by and one of them whispered to the other mischievously:
"See yon sleeping Scotsman
so strong and handsome built?
I wonder if it's true what they
don't wear beneath the kilt?"
"Look at that Scottish man sleeping over there, he looks very strong and handsome. I wonder if it's true that they don't wear anything under their kilts?"
They crept up on that sleeping Scotsman
quiet as could be.
Lifted up his kilt about
an inch so they could see.
The girls silently approached the sleeping man and lifted his kilt slightly.
And there behold for them to view
beneath his Scottish skirt
Was nothing more than God
had graced him with upon his birth.
As they looked beneath his kilt, they saw what nature had provided him with at birth.
They marveled for a moment
then one said: "We must be gone.
Let's leave a present for our friend
before we move along."
After marveling for a moment, one of the girls suggested leaving a gift for the sleeping man.
As a gift, they left a blue silk ribbon
tied into a bow.
Around the bonny star the Scot's kilt
did lift and show.
They left a blue silk ribbon tied in a bow around the traditional Scottish kilt, it caused the kilt to lift up and reveal more of him.
Now the Scotsman woke to nature's call
and stumbled towards the trees.
Behind the bush, he lifts his kilt
and gawks at what he sees.
The sleeping Scottish man woke up and went to relieve himself, but was surprised by what he saw when he lifted his kilt.
And in a startled voice, he says
to what's before his eyes:
"Well, lad, I don't know where you've been
but I see you've won first prize!"
In disbelief, he jokingly congratulated himself on his endowment and questioned where it had come from.
Ring-ding-diddle-iddle-aye-dee-oh!
Ring-die-diddilee-aye-oh!
These lines are simply the chorus and do not carry significant meaning.
Contributed by Daniel L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@surplusdivision2461
They left out the best part!
6. Our Scottish friend, still dressed in kilt,
Continued up the street
He hadn't gone ten yards or more,
When a lass he chanced to meet.
She said: "I've heard what's underneath there,
Tell me, is it so?"
He said: "Just slip your hand up, lass,
If y'really want to know!"
7. So she slipped her hand right up his kilt,
And much to her surprise,
The Scotsman smiled,
And a very strange look came into his eyes,
She said: "Why, sir, that's gruesome!"
And then she heard him roar:
"If you stick yer hand up once again,
You'll find it grew some more!"
@MrJustonemorevoice
"Lad I don't know where you've been but I see you've won first prize!"
An accurate depiction of how men coexist with their member.
@sabinrawr
As real Scotsmen do.
@thetruezonein
As a Scottish this is all true both the comment and song
@lostinsauce4515
Aye
@DmondVezo
a fine example me lad
@SekiberiusWelkesh
One time up in Canada it was so cold my member turned a sickly pale and when I went and whipped it out to piss I shouted "My poor little friend, you're frozen!"
And lets just say everyone had a good laugh.
@ellaames9858
I found this and then realised it was the song that used to be my lullaby when I was little
👏👏👌
Good job parents
@squidbro6635
Reading this reminds me that rock-a-by baby is about a baby falling out of a cradle in a tree.
@kingofdragons1143
Lucky bastard
@meakarma1973
Lol I can relate