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.
Wasn't That A Party
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Might've been the gin
Could've been the three or four six-packs,
I don't know, but look at the mess I'm in
My head is like a football
I think I'm going to die
Tell me, me oh, me oh my
Wasn't that a party
Someone took a grapefruit
Wore it like a hat
I saw someone under my kitchen table
Talking to my old tom cat
They were talking about hockey
The cat was talking back
Long about then every-thing went black
Wasn't that a party
I'm sure it's just my memory
Playing tricks on me
But I think I saw my buddy
Cutting down my neighbour's tree
Could've been the whiskey
Might've been the gin
Could've been the three or four six-packs,
I don't know, but look at the mess I'm in
My head is like a football
I think I'm going to die
Tell me, me oh, me oh my
Wasn't that a party
Billy, Joe and Tommy
Well they went a little far
They were sittin' in my back yard, blowing on a sireen
From somebody's police car
So you see, Your Honour
It was all in fun
The little bitty track meet down on main street
Was just to see if the cops could run
Well they run us in to see you
In an alcoholic haze
I sure can use those thirty days
To re-cover from the party
Could've been the whiskey
Might've been the gin
Could've been the three or four six-packs,
I don't know, but look at the mess I'm in
My head is like a football
I think I'm going to die
Tell me, me oh, me oh my
Wasn't that a party
The Irish Rovers's "Wasn't That A Party" is a humorous song that tells the story of a wild party that the singer attended. The lyrics describe the aftermath of the party, with the singer experiencing a hangover and trying to piece together the events from the previous night. The song opens with the singer pondering the cause of his current state, questioning whether it was the whiskey, gin, or the multiple six-packs that he consumed. He then describes the strange shenanigans that occurred at the party, such as someone wearing a grapefruit on their head, someone talking to the family cat about hockey, and his friends using a police car siren in his backyard.
Later in the song, the singer reveals that the party got out of hand and the group ended up running from the police, resulting in their arrest and subsequent appearance before a judge. He pleads that the "little bitty track meet down on main street" was all in good fun and begs for the 30-day jail sentence to help recover from the wild party.
Line by Line Meaning
Could've been the whiskey
The singer speculates that drinking whiskey may have contributed to the wild and crazy party.
Might've been the gin
The singer suggests that drinking gin may have also contributed to the party's madness.
Could've been the three or four six-packs,
I don't know, but look at the mess I'm in
The singer is unsure if it was the several six-packs of beer that they consumed, but they are in a terrible state now.
My head is like a football
I think I'm going to die
Tell me, me oh, me oh my
Wasn't that a party
The artist's head is pounding and they feel like they're going to die. Despite this, they can't help but marvel at the sensational party that they experienced.
Someone took a grapefruit
Wore it like a hat
One of the guests at the party made a playful hat out of a grapefruit.
I saw someone under my kitchen table
Talking to my old tom cat
At the party, the singer observed someone under their kitchen table who seemed to be conversing with their pet cat.
They were talking about hockey
The cat was talking back
The people conversing under the table were apparently discussing hockey, and to the singer's surprise, the cat was perhaps even participating in the conversation.
Long about then every-thing went black
Wasn't that a party
The artist blacked out from the chaos and mayhem of the party, which they still regard as quite the epic event.
I'm sure it's just my memory
Playing tricks on me
But I think I saw my buddy
Cutting down my neighbour's tree
The artist doubts their own memory, but in a hazy recollection, they think they saw their friend cutting down their neighbor's tree during the party.
Billy, Joe and Tommy
Well they went a little far
They were sittin' in my back yard, blowing on a sireen
From somebody's police car
Three guests at the party, Billy, Joe, and Tommy, took their antics too far and ended up blowing the siren of a police car that they had found and brought into the host's backyard.
So you see, Your Honour
It was all in fun
The little bitty track meet down on main street
Was just to see if the cops could run
The singer is addressing a judge, explaining that the wild party was all for fun and that even the silly games of racing and challenging the police were harmless.
Well they run us in to see you
In an alcoholic haze
I sure can use those thirty days
To re-cover from the party
As a result of their behavior at the party, the guests were taken into police custody while still under the influence of alcohol. The artist suggests that they could use a thirty-day period of sobriety to recover from the intense partying.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@NapkinEdStern
I remember them playing this all the time on the radio in the early '80s. Excellent!
@usgonzo
They even had T-shirts
@DavidBrown-yd9le
I thought it was late 70s
@NapkinEdStern
@@DavidBrown-yd9le The Rovers is a 1980 album by the music group The Irish Rovers. It was their first album after they rebranded themselves as The Rovers, dropping "Irish" from the group name, and includes their crossover country hit "Wasn't That a Party".
@darrenbell3038
this was a staple at any Manitoba social for like 15yrs...oh, how I miss watching the boys Sunday night after "The Beachcombers"....Jimmy, you are sorely missed....I hope to meet you in the afterlife!
@realcanadiangirl64
This was the existing song at my lifelong friend Eric Allen's funeral. Rest in peace my friend and thanks for all of the memories 💙
@StormLover3
There was nothing better than listening to everyone in the bar sing this in the 80’s! 😂
@rayray1405
What A Great Song, Brings Back So Many Memories From My Childhood, Teen & Adulthood....I Will Always Love This Song.....Wasn't That A PARTY
@laurentlord7983
le 😂 jury je I 😂have 😮pu voir ici oohijuhjhiuujyeewqqh uklf
r
@stax6092
One of the Greatest Songs of All Time from one of the Greatest bands of All Time.