A popular and long-running Canadian-Irish folk group that saw their beginni… Read Full Bio ↴A popular and long-running Canadian-Irish folk group that saw their beginning in the 1960s, The Irish Rovers are particularly well-known for their hit recording of Shel Silverstein's "The Unicorn," although a great many more of their characteristically happy and oft-comical songs remain well-known to this day. In 2010, the band celebrated 45 years as recording artists, with their latest CD, "Gracehill Fair" and filming the DVD/television special "Home in Ireland", shot entirely on-location, throughout the northwest coast of Ireland. George Millar says, “It’s basically The Irish Rovers ‘Coming Home’ because this is our home, for all of us. We want to show the world what the northwest Irish coast is like. I’ve traveled the world now for over 40 years and there’s nothing like it.”

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.

Work of the Weavers
The Irish Rovers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We're all met together here tae sit and tae crack
Wi' our glasses in our hands and our work upon our back
For there's no a trade among them that can mend nor can mak
If it wasna for the work of the weavers

If it wasna for the weavers what would you do
Ya wadna hae a cloth that's made of woo'
Ya wadna hae a coat of the black or the blue

If it wasna for the work of the weavers

There's soldiers and there's sailors there's glaziers and a'
There's doctors and there's ministers and them that live by law
And our friends in Sooth America though them we never saw
But we ken they wear the work of the weavers

If it wasna for the weavers what would you do
Ya wadna hae a cloth that's made of woo'
Ya wadna hae a coat of the black or the blue
If it wasna for the work of the weavers

The ploughman lads they mock us and sling the mud about
They call us mean and thin-faced bleached-like clouts
But yet for all their mockery they canna do without
For they all need the work of the weavers

If it wasna for the weavers what would you do
Ya wadna hae a cloth that's made of woo'
Ya wadna hae a coat of the black or the blue
If it wasna for the work of the weavers

The weaving is a trade that never can fail
As long as we need cloth for to keep anither hale
So let's all be merry o'er a bicker o' good ale
And we'll drink to the health of the weavers

If it wasna for the weavers what would you do
Ya wadna hae a cloth that's made of woo'

Ya wadna hae a coat of the black or the blue
If it wasna for the work of the weavers

Overall Meaning

The Irish Rovers's song "Work of the Weavers" is a tribute to the importance of weavers and the craft of weaving. The song paints a picture of a group of people gathered together, enjoying each other's company with a drink in hand and work on their backs. It emphasizes the vital role that weavers play in the creation of clothing and textiles, highlighting that without their work, people would not have wool cloth, coats of different colors, or other woven goods. The song acknowledges how all professions depend on weaving in some way, either directly or indirectly, and that even those who mock weavers cannot do without their products. The final verse is a celebration of the enduring nature of the weaving trade and its ability to sustain us throughout our lives.

Line by Line Meaning

We're all met together here tae sit and tae crack
We have gathered here to socialize and enjoy each other's company.

Wi' our glasses in our hands and our work upon our back
We have brought our drinks and are still wearing our work clothes.

For there's no a trade among them that can mend nor can mak If it wasna for the work of the weavers
Without the contribution of weavers, many other trades would not be able to function properly.

If it wasna for the weavers what would you do Ya wadna hae a cloth that's made of woo' Ya wadna hae a coat of the black or the blue If it wasna for the work of the weavers
Without the skill and hard work of weavers, many people would not have the clothes they wear every day.

There's soldiers and there's sailors there's glaziers and a' There's doctors and there's ministers and them that live by law And our friends in Sooth America though them we never saw But we ken they wear the work of the weavers
People in all walks of life depend on the products of the weaving trade, including our friends far away in South America.

The ploughman lads they mock us and sling the mud about They call us mean and thin-faced bleached-like clouts But yet for all their mockery they canna do without For they all need the work of the weavers
Some people may look down on weavers, but they still depend on the products of our trade.

The weaving is a trade that never can fail As long as we need cloth for to keep anither hale So let's all be merry o'er a bicker o' good ale And we'll drink to the health of the weavers
Weaving will always be relevant as long as people need clothing. Let's toast to ourselves and our craft.

Lyrics © ANTRIM MUSIC PUBLISHING, LTD., O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Traditional Traditional

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