A Dublin native and University College Dublin grad (politics/sociology), Roberts thought about pursuing journalism upon his late Reagan-era stateside arrival. He thought better of it after an internship at PBS, deciding he'd share his homeland history by making news, rather than reading it off a teleprompter. The quintet's still rolling after Roberts' vocal cord surgery, and touring behind last year's wry, sprightly tour de force, Real World. They are a true purveyor of Irish rock that's thrilling to hear, fun to watch, and certain to swing your shillelagh.
Deep History: There is more to the story than what is written above. The Young Dubliners began in 1988 (maybe even 1987) as a duo, Keith Roberts and Paul O'Toole. Both played acoustic guitars and sang. The format was mostly Irish folksongs and Irish pop. Keith and Paul made an interesting contrast. Paul, an electrician by trade, was a multi-instrumentalist and true Dubliner, from the north side. Keith was a college-educated product of the pairing of two well-known Irish entertainers. Not truly from Dublin, Keith was raised in the posh suburb of Dun Laoghaire (sounds like Dun Leary to an American ear). One of Keith's musical motivations may have been having known members of the band Hothouse Flowers during his days in college. Paul's musical motivations might have been more simple; he simply liked playing and singing a good tune in between sips of Guinness Stout.
Their homebase in the earliest of the early days was the Irish Rover on Santa Monica Boulevard in Santa Monica. They were an underground phenomenon back in those days, and they often played to a packed, but very small, house. 'The Rover', as it was called, would become a solid mass of humanity who were all smoking and drinking until the cigarette smoke burned your eyes and the heat and humidity of a hundred sweaty bodies turned the tiny pub into a sauna filled with undulating human flesh. They shared the Rover back then with another Irish band called "The Lads", one would play Friday night and the other would take Saturday night. Paddy's Day 1988 had The Lads go on first, followed by the Young Dubliners. This was powerful testimony to the popularity of the 'band' back then, that an acoustic act could out-muscle an electric band for headliner of an Irish bar on Paddy's Day.
Back in those days they had a soundman, Rob McCulley, who would record all the shows. There are dozens and dozens of these tapes in existence. They self-produced their first cassette, "Young Dubliners Live", based on those early recordings. The tape included their very first original song, "Keaton's Bar", written by Paul O'Toole. The act developed. They added instruments, and gave the yoke to ones they didn't care for (e.g. bongo player). "John" Brendan Holmes, another Dubliner, joined them on bass, a role that he has held ever since (while a myriad of other musicians came and went). "Dirty Old Town' developed into their closing number, and it was during this period that "Fisherman's Blues" and "Rocky Road to Dublin" became essential numbers. In answer to the mosh pit, the front of the stage would feature what would (much later) be called the 'jig pit', and the traditional instrumental "Coolies" was the song that would get it in full gear.
During this period they opened for Christy Moore (who insisted on meeting 'the boys' before going on) and The Furey Brothers (who counseled them to play more originals--fine advice from a band that had maybe one or two original songs to their name). They released another self-produced cassette, this time a studio release called "Home", featuring the eponymous (and their second) original song. They began to branch out of the Rover and play other gigs.
The Leaving of Liverpool
The Young Dubliners Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am bound for California, a place I know right well
So fare thee well my own true love
When I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling when I think of thee
I have sailed with Burgess once before, I think I know him well
So fare thee well my own true love
When I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling when I think of thee
Farewell to Lower Frederick Street, Anson Terrace and Park Lane
I am bound away for to leave you and I'll never see you again
So fare thee well my own true love
When I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling when I think of thee
I am bound for California by way of stormy Cape Horn
And I will write to thee a letter, love, when I am homeward bound
So fare thee well my own true love
When I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling when I think of thee
I've shipped on a Yankee clipper ship, "Davy Crockett" is her name
And Burgess is the captain of her and they say that she's a floating hell
So fare thee well my own true love
When I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling when I think of thee
The Young Dubliners' song "The Leaving of Liverpool" is a traditional Irish folk song about leaving one's home and loved ones behind to find a better life elsewhere. The singer of the song is leaving Liverpool to go to California, and he bids farewell to his love and his city. He mentions that he has sailed before with a man named Burgess, and he thinks he knows him well enough to get by on the ship. He mentions that he's not upset about leaving Liverpool itself, but rather the thought of leaving his beloved.
In the second verse, the singer bids farewell to specific streets in his city that hold memories for him. He mentions that he is leaving for good and will never see those places again. He reassures his love that they will be reunited when he returns from his journey, and that his sadness is not about leaving Liverpool, but about leaving her behind.
The third verse brings us closer to the singer's journey, as he reveals that he is heading to California by way of Cape Horn, a notoriously dangerous area. He promises to write to his love when he is homeward bound. In the final verse, he reveals that he has boarded a Yankee clipper ship called the "Davy Crockett," captained by Burgess once again. Despite the ship's reputation as a "floating hell," the singer seems resolved to move forward, keeping his sights set on his destination and his love.
Overall, "The Leaving of Liverpool" is a song about the sacrifices we make when we leave our homes and loved ones behind in pursuit of a better future. At the heart of the song is the idea that even though we may leave physical places and people behind, our love for them remains steadfast and unwavering.
Line by Line Meaning
Farewell to Princes' landing stage River Mersey fare thee well
Goodbye to the Princes' landing stage on the River Mersey, I bid you farewell.
I am bound for California, a place I know right well
I am going to California, a place I'm familiar with.
So fare thee well my own true love
When I return united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling when I think of thee
Goodbye, my true love. We'll be together again when I return. It's not leaving Liverpool that makes me sad, but thinking of you does.
I have sailed with Burgess once before, I think I know him well
If a man's a sailor he will get along, if not then he's sure in hell
I've sailed with Burgess before, so I think I know him well. A man who's a sailor will do well, but if not he'll be in trouble.
Farewell to Lower Frederick Street, Anson Terrace and Park Lane
I am bound away for to leave you and I'll never see you again
Goodbye to Lower Frederick Street, Anson Terrace, and Park Lane. I'm leaving and will never see them again.
I am bound for California by way of stormy Cape Horn
And I will write to thee a letter, love, when I am homeward bound
I'm going to California by way of the stormy Cape Horn. I'll write you a letter when I'm coming back home.
I've shipped on a Yankee clipper ship, "Davy Crockett" is her name
And Burgess is the captain of her and they say that she's a floating hell
I've boarded a Yankee clipper ship named "Davy Crockett," and Burgess is the captain. They say it's a really rough ship.
Contributed by Ian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Darius
Fare thee well to Princes Landing Stage
Mersey River, fare thee well
I am bound for Cali-forn-i-ay
It's a place that I know right well
So fare thee well, my own true love
When I return, united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling, when I think of thee
I'm boarding the Yankee sailing ship
Davy Crockett is her name
And Burgess is the captain of her
They say that she's a floating hell
So fare thee well, my own true love
When I return, united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling, when I think of thee
The ship is in the harbor, love
And I wish I could remain
For I know it will be a long, long time
Before I will see you again
So fare thee well, my own true love
When I return, united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling, when I think of thee
So fare thee well, my own true love
When I return, united we will be
It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me
But my darling, when I think of thee
Artemis Steele
Okay, it's official. I'm hooked, I need this album. And I need it now.
Luis Raymundo Lozano Juárez
10 seconds were more than enough
Doug Thompson
Transgirl Vs. The World , you won’t be disappointed!
ruddyduck03
Love this song. Young Dubs nailed it. Saw them several years ago, had never heard them before, and was hooked instantly. Great music!!
pundragonrebel
Loved it the first time I heard them play it in 1986...still loving it. SLAINTE!!!
meggiemeown
Is there a better band than The Young Dubliners? I love them. They take the songs of my childhood and make them something even grander!
Scott Mittleman
Great song! I want to say I saw The Young Dubliners two or three times, but I only remember (vaguely) one show at a pub in Santa Monica, CA, probably around 1991 or 92. They played, "Fishermans Blues," and "Sweet Thing." Such a fun night.
TriestinaGirl
God bless Ireland!!:)
Artemis Steele
Yes! Erin go bragh!
Bhikshu
2021 going on 2022 and still loving this song, discovered through this very video recommended to me oh-so-long ago. Here's to a brave new year and better times than we're leaving behind!