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.
Valparaiso
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And all of me money it was spent (spent, spent)
Where it went to, I can’t remember (remember)
So down to the shipping office I went (off I went)
Paddy lay back, (Paddy lay back)
Take in your slack (take in your slack)
Take a turn around your capstan heave a pawl.
We’re bound for Valparaiso ‘round the horn
Well it seems there was a great demand for sailors (for sailors)
For the colonies, and for Frisco and for France (France, France)
Well, I shipped aboard the limey barque the Hotspur (the Hotspur)
And got paralytic drunk on my advance (my ad-vance)
Paddy lay back, (Paddy lay back)
Take in your slack (take in your slack)
Take a turn around your capstan heave a pawl.
About ship’s stations, boys be handy (Handy!)
We’re bound for Valparaiso ‘round the horn
Well, I joined her on a cold December morning (morning)
A-flapping of me flippers to keep me warm (keep me warm)
With the south cone hoisted as a warning (a warning)
To stand by the coming of a storm
Paddy lay back, (Paddy lay back)
Take in your slack (take in your slack)
Take a turn around your capstan heave a pawl.
About ship’s stations, boys be handy (Handy!)
We’re bound for Valparaiso ‘round the horn
Well, I woke up in the morning stiff and sore (sore)
And I knew that I was outward bound again (bound again)
And a voice come a-bawling at the door (door)
Lay aft men, and answer to your name (to your name)
Paddy lay back, (Paddy lay back)
Take in your slack (take in your slack)
Take a turn around your capstan heave a pawl.
About ship’s stations, boys be handy (Handy!)
We’re bound for Valparaiso ‘round the horn
Now it was on the quarter deck when first I seen ‘em (seen ‘em)
Such an ugly bunch I never seen before (seen before)
Cause there was a bum and stiff from every quarter (quarter)
And it made my poor old heart feel sick and sore (sore, sore)
Paddy lay back, (Paddy lay back)
Take in your slack (take in your slack)
Take a turn around your capstan heave a pawl.
About ship’s stations, boys be handy (Handy!)
We’re bound for Valparaiso ‘round the horn
The Irish Rovers’ song “Valparaiso” tells the story of a sailor’s voyage to the Chilean port city of Valparaiso around the horn (Cape Horn) at the southern tip of South America. The song begins with the singer on a cold and dreary December morning, having spent all his money and headed down to the shipping office to find work as a sailor. He joins the crew of the Limey barque the Hotspur and gets paralytic drunk on his advance. The sailors prepare to set sail, taking in slack and heaving pawls, ready to round the horn.
The second verse continues with the singer describing his arrival on the ship, flapping his flippers to keep warm, and seeing the south cone hoisted as a warning to stand by the coming storm. He wakes up the next morning, sore and stiff, hearing a voice calling the sailors to their stations. The final verse describes the ugliness of the crew, with a bum and stiff from every quarter, making the singer’s poor heart feel sick.
Overall, the song tells us about the harsh realities of being a sailor in the 19th century and the difficult journey around Cape Horn. It also portrays a sense of comradery and togetherness among sailors in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a cold and dreary morning in December
The day was bleak and frigid
And all of me money it was spent
All of my money was gone
Where it went to, I can’t remember
I don't recall where it went
So down to the shipping office I went
I went to the shipping office for work
Paddy lay back,
Hey, Paddy
Take in your slack
Get ready for work
Take a turn around your capstan heave a pawl.
Get the ship ready to sail
About ship’s stations, boys be handy (Handy!)
Get ready to work, everyone
We’re bound for Valparaiso ‘round the horn
We're sailing to Valparaiso, Chile
Well it seems there was a great demand for sailors
There was a high demand for sailors
For the colonies, and for Frisco and for France
For the colonies, San Francisco, and France
Well, I shipped aboard the limey barque the Hotspur
I joined the Hotspur, a British sailing ship
And got paralytic drunk on my advance
I got extremely drunk with my advance pay
Well, I joined her on a cold December morning
I joined the ship on a cold morning in December
A-flapping of me flippers to keep me warm
I was flapping my arms to stay warm
With the south cone hoisted as a warning
The south cone flag was raised as a warning for an upcoming storm
To stand by the coming of a storm
To prepare for the storm
Well, I woke up in the morning stiff and sore
I woke up feeling stiff and uncomfortable
And I knew that I was outward bound again
I knew I was sailing away again
And a voice come a-bawling at the door
Someone yelled at my door
Lay aft men, and answer to your name
The crew was being called to duty
Now it was on the quarter deck when first I seen ‘em
I first saw them on the quarter deck
Such an ugly bunch I never seen before
I had never seen such an unattractive group before
Cause there was a bum and stiff from every quarter
There were beggars and alcoholics from every corner
And it made my poor old heart feel sick and sore
It made me feel upset and uncomfortable
Contributed by Kaitlyn R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ian Burt
on Bluenose
You have missed out a verse.