Makem was born and raised in Keady, County Armagh (the "Hub of the Universe" as Makem always said), in Northern Ireland. His mother, Sarah Makem, was an important source of traditional Irish music, who was visited and recorded by, among others, Diane Guggenheim Hamilton, Jean Ritchie, Peter Kennedy and Sean O'Boyle. His father, Peter Makem, was a fiddler who also played the bass drum in a local pipe band named "Oliver Plunkett", after a martyr of the Cromwell age. His brother and sister were folk musicians also. Young Tommy Makem, from the age of 8, was member of the St. Patrick's church choir for 15 years where he sang Gregorian chant and motets. He didn't learn to read music but he made it in his "own way".
He started to work at 14 as a clerk in a garage and later he worked for a while as a barman at Mone's Bar, a local pub and as a local correspondent for The Armagh Observer.
He emigrated to the United States in 1955, carrying his few possessions and a set of bagpipes (from his time in a pipe band). Arriving in Dover, New Hampshire, he worked at Kidder Press, where in 1956 his hand was accidentally crushed by a press.[4] With his arm in a sling, he left Dover for New York to pursue an acting career.
The Clancys and Makem were signed to Columbia Records in 1961. The same year, at the Newport Folk Festival, Makem and Joan Baez were named the most promising newcomers on the American folk scene. During the 1960s, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem performed sellout concerts at such venues as Carnegie Hall, and made television appearances on shows like The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show. The group performed for President Kennedy. They also played in smaller venues such as the Gate of Horn in Chicago. They appeared jointly in the UK Albums Chart in April 1966, when Isn't It Grand Boys reached number 22.
Makem left the group in 1969 to pursue a solo career. In 1975, he and Liam Clancy were both booked to play a folk festival in Cleveland, Ohio, and were persuaded to do a set together. Thereafter they often performed as Makem and Clancy, recording several albums together. At a concert in 1977, Tommy noticed an audience member having a good time and exclaimed, "What have you been smoking? Good whatever you have, pass it around to the rest of them we'll all get goin'!" He once again went solo in 1988. Throughout the 70's and 80's Makem performed both solo and with Liam Clancy on The Irish Rovers various television shows, which were filming both in Canada and Ireland.
In the 1980-90s, Makem was a principal in a well-known Irish music venue in New York City, "Tommy Makem's Irish Pavilion." This East 57th Street club was a prominent and well-loved performance spot for a wide range of musicians. Among the performers and visitors were Paddy Reilly, Joe Burke, and Ronnie Gilbert. Makem was a regular performer, often solo and often as part of Makem & Clancy, particularly in the late fall and holiday season. The club was also used for warm-up performances in the weeks before the 1984 reunion concert of The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem at Lincoln Center. In addition, the after-party for Bob Dylan's legendary 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration at Madison Square Garden in 1992 was held at the Irish Pavilion.
In 1997 he wrote a book, Tommy Makem's Secret Ireland, and in 1999 premiered his own one-man theatre show, Invasions and Legacies, in New York. His career includes various other acting, video, composition, and writing credits. He also established the Tommy Makem International Festival of Song in South Armagh in 2000.
Makem was married to Mary Shanahan, a native of Chicago, for 37 years, and had four children - daughter Katie Makem-Boucher, and sons Shane, Conor and Rory. They also had two grandchildren, Molly (Dickerman) Makem and Robert Boucher. Mary died in 2001.
Makem's three sons (who perform as "The Makem Brothers") and nephews Tom & Jimmy Sweeney continue the family folk music tradition.
Makem died in Dover, New Hampshire on August 1, 2007, following a lengthy battle with lung cancer. He continued to record and perform until very close to the end. Paying tribute to him after his death, Liam Clancy said, "He was my brother in every way" He is buried next to his wife at New Saint Mary Cemetery in Dover.
Makem was a prolific composer/songwriter. His performances were always full of his compositions, many of which became standards in the repertoire. Some, notably "Four Green Fields", became so well known that they were sometimes described as anonymous folk songs. During the fall of the Iron Curtain, Makem often proudly told the story that his song "The Winds Are Singing Freedom" had become a sort of folk anthem among Eastern Europeans seeing a new future opening before them.
Makem's best-known songs include "Four Green Fields", "Gentle Annie", "The Rambles of Spring", "The Winds Are Singing Freedom", "The Town of Ballybay", "Winds of the Morning", "Mary Mack", and "Farewell to Carlingford". Even though many people mistakenly believe that Makem wrote "Red is the Rose", it is a traditional Irish folk song.
Makem had a gripping stage presence – the result of years of public performance, a charismatic personality, and a bard's voice. An army of friends and fans attended his frequent concerts, many recognizing each other at far-flung venues. Performances frequently included the following familiar elements:
Original Makem compositions; the first set often began with "The Rambles of Spring"
The standard repertoire of folk and Irish music, both well-known and little-known (but never "Danny Boy", "When Irish Eyes are Smiling", "Toorah Loorah Looral", or other forbidden requests)
Oddball songs, such as "Bridie Murphy and the Kamikaze Pilot" (Colm Gallagher) or "William Bloat" (Raymond Calvert)
Poetic recitations, often as introductions to songs; a frequent source was William Butler Yeats. (Thus "Gentle Annie" usually began with "When You Are Old and Grey", and Four Green Fields usually began with Seamus Heaney's "Requiem for the Croppies".)
Jokes, often silly, made funnier through repetition:
"If your nose is running and your feet smell, you're upside down."
Rarely: monologues, such as Marriott Edgar's "The Lion and Albert"
Exhortations, nearly always successful, for the audience to join in the singing
He received many awards and honours, including three honorary doctorates: one from the University of New Hampshire in 1998, one from the University of Limerick in 2001, and one from the University of Ulster in 2007; as well as the World Folk Music Association's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. With the Clancy Brothers he was listed among the top 100 Irish-Americans of the 20th century in 1999.[10]
A bridge over the Cocheco River on Washington Street in Makem's long-time home of Dover, New Hampshire, was named the Tommy and Mary Makem Memorial Bridge in 2010.
Boulavogue
Tommy Makem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(P.J.McCall)
At Boulavogue, as the sun was setting
O'er bright May meadows of Shelmalier,
A rebel hand set the heather blazing
And brought the neighbors from far and near.
Then Father Murphy, from old Kilcormack,
Spurred up the rocks with a warning cry;
For Ireland's freedom we fight or die."
He led us on 'gainst the coming soldiers,
The cowardly Yeomen we put to flight;
'Twas at the Harrow the boys of Wexford
Showed Bookey's regiment how men could fight.
Look out for hirelings, King George of England,
Search every kingdom where breathes a slave,
For Father Murphy of the County Wexford
Sweeps o'er the land like a mighty wave.
We took Camolin and Enniscorthy,
And Wexford storming drove out our foes;
'Twas at Slieve Coillte our pikes were reeking
With the crimson stream of the beaten yeos.
At Tubberneering and Ballyellis
Full many a Hessian lay in his gore;
Ah, Father Murphy, had aid come over,
The green flag floated from shore to shore!
At Vinegar Hill, o'er the pleasant Slaney,
Our heroes vainly stood back to back,
And the Yeos at Tullow took Father Murphy
And burned his body upon the rack.
God grant you glory, brave Father Murphy,
And open Heaven to all your men;
The cause that called you may call tomorrow
In another fight for the green again.
Recorded by Galvin, Clancys
Filename[ BOULVOGE
Play.exe BOULVOGE
RG
===DOCUMENT BOUNDARY===
The song "Boulavogue" by Tommy Makem tells the story of a rebellion in County Wexford, Ireland in 1798. The song begins at Boulavogue, where a rebel sets the heather on fire, gathering neighbors from all around. Father Murphy, from Kilcormack, arrives and urges everyone to take up arms to fight for Ireland's freedom. He leads the charge against the cowardly Yeomen soldiers and their leader, Bookey's regiment, at the Harrow. The boys of Wexford show their bravery and fighting spirit, defeating the Yeomen.
The song continues with the rebels taking over Camolin, Enniscorthy, and Wexford, with their pikes running with the blood of the defeated Yeomen soldiers. However, the battle at Vinegar Hill was a defeat for the rebels, and Father Murphy was captured and burned on the rack by the Yeos at Tullow. The song ends with a prayer for Father Murphy and his men, who fought and died for the cause of Ireland's freedom. The lyrics of "Boulavogue" reveal a sense of pride, heroism, and sacrifice for the greater cause of patriotism, revealing the struggles and sacrifices made by the Irish people in their fight for independence.
Line by Line Meaning
At Boulavogue, as the sun was setting
As the sun was setting at Boulavogue, the location of the rebellion, where the Shelmalier meadows of May shone, a rebel set the heather ablaze and called the neighbors from all around to join.
A rebel hand set the heather blazing
The rebellion began when a rebel set the heather on fire, a signal for others to join.
Then Father Murphy, from old Kilcormack
Father Murphy from Kilcormack arrived and spurred the rebels into action.
"Arm! Arm!" he cried, "for I've come to lead you,
Father Murphy urged the rebels to arm themselves and follow him since he was there to lead them to fight for freedom.
For Ireland's freedom we fight or die."
The rebels fight to death for the cause of Ireland's freedom.
He led us on 'gainst the coming soldiers,
Father Murphy led the rebels to battle against approaching soldiers.
The cowardly Yeomen we put to flight;
The rebels defeated the cowardly Yeomen soldiers and sent them running away.
'Twas at the Harrow the boys of Wexford
The battle happened at the Harrow, where the boys of Wexford fought and showed the regiment of Bookey how to fight like men.
Look out for hirelings, King George of England,
King George of England should beware of mercenaries and search every kingdom where slaves exist since Father Murphy of the County Wexford is sweeping over the land like a mighty wave.
Search every kingdom where breathes a slave,
King George's army must look everywhere that people are enslaved to locate rebels such as Father Murphy, who fight for freedom.
We took Camolin and Enniscorthy,
The rebels raided and took over Camolin and Enniscorthy.
And Wexford storming drove out our foes;
The rebels drove out their enemies to take control of Wexford successfully.
'Twas at Slieve Coillte our pikes were reeking
During the attack on Slieve Coillte, the pikes of the rebels dripped with blood from the beaten Yeomen soldiers they defeated.
With the crimson stream of the beaten yeos.
The pikes of the rebels dripped with the blood of the beaten Yeomen soldiers.
At Tubberneering and Ballyellis
The rebels fought at Tubberneering and Ballyellis.
Full many a Hessian lay in his gore;
Many Hessian mercenaries were killed in the battles.
Ah, Father Murphy, had aid come over,
Father Murphy fought bravely but could have had more help on his side if it had arrived.
The green flag floated from shore to shore!
If more aid had come, the green flag of the Irish revolution would have flown victoriously from shore to shore.
At Vinegar Hill, o'er the pleasant Slaney,
The rebels fought at Vinegar Hill, which is situated over the beautiful river of Slaney.
Our heroes vainly stood back to back,
The rebels fought heroically but ended up being outmatched and stood back to back in vain.
And the Yeos at Tullow took Father Murphy
At Tullow, the Yeomen captured Father Murphy.
And burned his body upon the rack.
Father Murphy's body was burned on a torture device known as the rack.
God grant you glory, brave Father Murphy,
May Father Murphy be granted glory by God for his bravery.
And open Heaven to all your men;
May God open the gates of Heaven to welcome all the men who fought for Ireland's freedom under Father Murphy's leadership.
The cause that called you may call tomorrow
The cause that Father Murphy fought for may need to be fought again tomorrow.
In another fight for the green again.
If necessary, the rebels will fight again for Ireland's green flag of freedom.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BARNEY MCKENNA, CIARAN PADRAIG MAIRE BOURKE, JOHN EDMUND SHEAHAN, LUKE KELLY, RONALD JOSEPH DREW, DP, Barney Mackenna, Ciaran Bourke, John Sheehan, Ronald Drew
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind