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
@EmmyPierz-ek7hi
I’d rather have disco
Than this modern crap
So-called “ music”
Rap-Crap
Beeped out every 5 seconds
Some disco bad
GitchyeGitchy Yah Yah Dah Dah
Got To Be Real
2 stinkers
Listen to
“ House Of The Rising Sun”
by Santa Esmirelda,
If I CAN’T Have You by the BeeGees
I Am What I Am by Village People...
Disco era
Us young-uns would dress up
Go to discos
( Dixie Electric Company- Cleveland
1978)
Tuesday Ladies Night!
Us young males
Dance with a different
beautiful girl EVERY song.
Stay til 2 am closing time.
Next week, there again
Good times
Youth
Booze
Beautiful young ladies
Mostly good disco music...
S. I. G. H. 😢. CB
@davidklein7962
One of the very first songs I played as a 20 yr old radio DJ spring 1981….on 1280AM WONW Defiance Ohio!! Great song/memories 🤗🤗🤗
@shannondawn44
Just lost my dear Mother in law . She always wanted this played at her funeral , but they went with hymns , so I'm playing for her now. I can still see her dancing to this :) Rest Peacefully Gertie <3 xoxo
@AngryAlbertan
Sorry for your loss.
But I'm sure she went to the big luau in the sky.
@tomfrank2919
I'm not sure where your mother-in-law's resting but if it's somewhere you can go to I would suggest getting a bottle of brandy or whatever beer and some type of a tape recorder or something. And playing this song at her grave site and having a drink toasting her I'm sure you will both have a smile on your face doing that. May she rest in peace! God bless you
@carlinboston585
Never let the religios take charge
@danitaharris9919
Sorry for your loss😢
@danitaharris9919
God bless Gertie and you too
@Anastajia2005
Nothing beats an Irish wake, I'm Scottish but when my hubby died there were a lot of his work mates there who were Irish. One of my friends later on said he was enjoying himself so much he had to remind himself it was a funeral. To be honest I swear I could see my late hubby standing in the corner with a drink in his hand laughing.
@danitaharris9919
Bless his and your heart❤
@pugsymalone6539
Yes, we had an Irish wake for my Dad when I was 13. One of the best parties I've ever attended. It taught me how to grieve in the best way.